Lights Out

Object Details

Copyright

© Smithsonian 2016

Podcast Category

Society & Culture

Description

Most people in North America can't see the Milky Way. The reason? We're ensconced in a luminous fog of artificial lighting 24/7. The evolution of lighting technology over the last century has made it possible to live, work, and play at any hour - day or night. But light pollution affects all life on earth, from humans to plants and insects. So, how did we find ourselves surrounded by a glowing shroud of electricity... and can we have the dark, without giving up the light?

Guests: 

Hal Wallace, curator of electricity collections at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History 
Lisbeth Fuisz, coordinating director, Lights Out D.C. 
Brian Schmidt, museum specialist, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History 
Diane Turnshek, Astronomer; Dark Skies Advocate

This episode was produced in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's exhibition: Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky. Through over 100 photographs, nearly 250 objects, interactive experiences, tactile models, and a theater program, discover why dark nights matter, rekindle your connection with the night sky, and consider how much light at night is enough—for whom, for what purpose, and who gets to decide?

Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky is open March 23, 2023 - TBA. 

Duration

30:47 MINS

Author

Smithsonian Institution

Subtitle

Most people in North America can't see the Milky Way. The reason? We're ensconced in a luminous fog of artificial lighting 24/7.

Size

44.3 MB

Data Source

Smithsonian Institution

Uploaded

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Creator

Smithsonian Institution

Type

Sound recordings

Podcast

MIME Type

audio/mpeg

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Topic

Smithsonian Sidedoor

Record ID

podcasts_b181332077a68c587723bfd30ee19db0

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