Special Interest
Bryan Boulanger, Ph.D., is the Engineering Centennial Alumni Endowed Chair for the Kokosing Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Ohio Northern University. His path into dark sky work started with a night in West Texas, where he realized that his own profession (civil engineering) was to blame for
Business
In 2023, a proposal for an MSG Sphere in East London raised questions about how a massive, illuminated entertainment venue could affect the surrounding area. Although the project was eventually abandoned, the debate is still useful for understanding the potential effects of large-scale artificial lighting. With more than one
Business
In 2019, PepsiCo’s Russian subsidiary partnered with the Russian startup StartRocket to explore the possibility of advertising in space. StartRocket proposed using a group of small satellites to reflect sunlight and create advertisements that could be seen from Earth. The companies conducted an exploratory stratospheric test, but PepsiCo later
Business
Although some organizations view dark sky policies as unnecessary, their effects on ecosystems, human health, climate, and energy use make them an important and practical issue to address. "Light pollution is not an inconvenience for astronomers. It is a measurable pressure on wildlife, food production, human health, and public
Science & Tech
Private companies have begun producing massive amounts of satellites for various reasons; however, these new devices bring up a multitude of concerns. An influx of satellites means new lights in our skies, creating a fundamentally different night sky for each coming generation to look up at. Begs the question; what
Science & Tech
As technology progresses, the abilities of humans also become more advanced. One of the newest upgrades to humans are night vision contacts. These contacts convert infrared light into legible colors, but are these contacts as good as they sound? "The University of Science and Technology team embedded nanoparticles into
Science & Tech
Lighting at night is an important technology for humans, but much of the lighting we use does not fully consider its effects on the surrounding environment. By redesigning how we use and control lighting, we can create environments that better accommodate both people and the wildlife that shares these spaces
Science & Tech
As satellite datacenters become more and more common, the question is, are they really a better option for our planet. Science is beginning to say that although it seems good on the surface, the long-term effects that it may cause could be detrimental to the environment. "SpaceX’s
Science & Tech
Studies show, insects are naturally attracted to artificial light because of their instinct to use the moon for navigation. When artificial light interferes, insects become disoriented, but small changes can be made to greatly reduce the number of bugs swarming around local fixtures. While insects face multiple severe stressors, including
Arts & Lifestyle
Water curtain projections transform ordinary outdoor water features into living canvases, turning liquid mist into a moving, semi-transparent medium for high-impact visual art. But beneath the initial holographic novelty, is this resource-intensive medium truly worth the investment? "When it comes to visual impact, water curtain projection
Arts & Lifestyle
New alternatives for entertainment are consistently being invented and adjusted. Projection mapping introduces a new alternative as a more sustainable option that turns stagnant objects into spectacles of movement and color just through projection. "When used with purpose and restraint, projection mapping elevates events beyond presentation into experience. It
Arts & Lifestyle
Fireworks have long been a staple of community and personal celebrations mainly occurring on the 4th of July or New Years times. But the more we look into this practice, the more we learn about the truly negative effects that they have on our world. "...a study in Pacific