When artificial light—such as in a major city—interferes with natural light, “light pollution” occurs. Among other effects, the blocking of natural light disrupts ecosystems and impacts human health. Artificial light also affects the view of starlight from a night sky. This is illustrated in the following video, showing the night scene as affected by light pollution. As you share this video with your students, call out ways that artificial light disrupts animals, people, and the environment.
Play the following video for your students [2:14]:
Huge loss of stars visible in night sky due to light pollution say scientists – BBC News
- Do you find the effects of light pollution surprising? Why or why not? (Accept all reasonable answers.)
- What effect of light pollution were you most surprised by? (Answers will vary.)
- What other “lights” (such as truth, God, celebrities, influencers) might affect us? (Accept all reasonable answers and be prepared to share an example. Some may refer to the Bible or Christ as a light. Others may think of a famous person who uses their influence as an artificial light. Don’t yet ask them to delineate the real versus artificial light.)
In a way, light pollution keeps us in darkness, allowing us to forget what’s up above that we can’t see. The artificial light of a city can block out the true light of the night sky, much like artificial lights in this world block out the true light of Christ. As believers we must learn to discern the difference and live as children of Light.
