Light Post, Issue Three

In this week’s issue, we’ll discuss a new way to cure jet lag, the worst city in the world for star gazing, and an Edison LED bulb. So post up in your favorite spot and enjoy Light Post!

Hong Kong is World’s Worst in Light Pollution

While living in a big city hampers your star gazing ability, it certainly fails in comparison to living in Hong Kong. In a study done by faculty of science at the University of Hong Kong, parts of the city are as much as 1,000 times brighter than international norms, giving Hong Kong’s light pollution the title of worst in the world. But why is Hong Kong so bright? Study leader Jason Pun Chun-shing gives us three main reasons: Hong Kong is an extremely densely populated place, the government is obsessed with providing public safety, and unregulated lighting on buildings. However, upward-facing lights and advertising aren’t the only culprits. For Chan Yuk Lung, who runs the astronomy club at Queen’s College, the light pollution issue is overstated: “We have very polluted air in Hong Kong and we have a lot of floating particles in the air and these floating particles reflect light back into our eyes – this is why we feel the sky is so bright at night.”

Delta’s Photon Shower Cleans Off Effect of Jet Lag

Any frequent flyers out there? How do you deal with the time zone changes? Extra coffee? Power naps? Well, caffeine jolts and cat naps may be a thing of the past as Delta Airlines unveiled a Photon Shower earlier this year at the 2013 TED conference in Long Beach, California. This isn’t your typical shower: while you’re rinsing in a light spray of water, you’ll also soak up powerful blue LED lights that create artificial sunlight, therefore rinsing away the effects of jet lag. Delta Airlines explains the importance of light in regards to the body: “The symptoms of jet lag occur because the body gets off schedule, not only because of the day/night pattern of its new location, but with itself. This is where light comes into play.” However, don't get too excited at the thought of landing at the airport and combating your jet lag, as Delta released the Photon Shower as a concept-only display.

Lighting Science Group Launches Edison-Inspired LED Lamps

One of the reasons people haven’t switched to LEDs is the shape. Some people don’t like the odd shape of some LEDs and therefore won’t switch to them. However, thanks to Lighting Science Group, that is no longer a valid excuse. They have launched a new line of standard shaped (A19) LED bulbs, the Definity Professional, that more closely resemble the typical light bulb shape: “Consumers have been asking the LED industry for bulbs which more closely replicate the form and function of a traditional Edison bulb,” said Lighting Science Group CEO Jeremy Cage. But don’t worry, you won’t have to give up performance for the new shape: these new bulbs are capable of producing up to 71 lumens per watt and capable of dimming down to 5%.

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