By KENDRA BURDICK

Since mankind discovered ways to produce light, almost every person uses it. True, light heightens our sight and lets us grow crops in bad conditions, but it also keeps us from understanding the worlds outside of our earthly barrier. 

Dr. Tyler Nordgren, a physics professor at the University of Redlands, stated, “I love to look up at a sky full of stars, and the instant your eyes lift above the horizon all of the stars come into existence.” Many people are stunted when they realize the effect of the light pollution, but have also asked themselves ‘What would we do without light?’ 

Many people are starting to describe the city’s light pollution as depressing. A group of astronomers, that were studying how light pollution affects birds, even said that light pollution was like having fog always in the air, only allowing us to see 50 ft. of the infinite universe. Because of light pollution we are unable to understand how much more there is out there. 

Yucaipa, California is just one of the many cities that are making light pollution. This is especially true as it is almost Christmas and many lights for the holiday are out. (Kendra Burdick/ Ethic Photo)

Nordgren continues: “Imagine looking at a world of stars and I just took the stars away and put only a dim light in the darkness, looking like an LA sky. Wouldn’t you say that you lost something, lost enjoyment.” 

Many people agree with his statement. Because of the light pollution, astrophysicists can not study space as easily. We can not see the stars as well as we could without light. Many people can’t see the milky way due to the lights around which is sad, due to the fact that seeing it for the first time is considered a life changing experience.

A group of astrophysicists from the “Dark Sky Association,” loved to look at the history of the stars but was transferred to a city to see the difference and they could barely see any stars. 

Though light pollution has some negative effects, go back to the question, ‘What would we do without light?’ Light pollution is a necessary evil, especially in cities. Living without light would be difficult for our generation to deal with, because we depend on light for things such as cooking, sight, warmth, and even growing crops. 

When the weather is bad or the soil is rocky, crops will not grow there. This is a problem since many people’s jobs and livelihoods depend on providing food. Many people have reverted to growing plants indoors. A former botanist, now teacher of the Central Board of Secondary Education said that it is even more efficient to grow crops this way. 

There are many different lights and procedures to this process so anyone can partake in this marble way to grow crops. Moving on cooking with light, using this method of cooking is more directed to the future. There are many ways to cook and bake food, but by light is to the highest standard.

 Without it we couldn’t see through the night, the mountain climbers or hikers that had gotten lost at night have said that the light coming from the cities so they could find help. Along with that, the lights that guide the streets helps the people who have to work late, including for police’s night shifts.

In conclusion, when it comes to seeing what we are missing in the outside world or to cook, farm, fly easier, it is more important to experience the wonders that are outside of the light. Because of this light pollution we are unable to understand how much more there is out there. Light pollution is taking away the opportunities to explore outside of our minds.