Light pollution is messing with coral reproduction
A coral reef in the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba in the Red Sea. Corals here and in the Persian Gulf are particularly affected by light pollution. Sahchaf Ben Ezra A dark side effect of the electricity that helps society run around the clock is the pollution caused by our increasing numbers of lights at night. Light pollution can obscure stargazing, confusing sea turtles when they hatch, and also could be harming coral reefs. [Related: The switch to LEDs in Europe is visible from space.] The light pollution from cities along the coast can trick the reefs into spawning outside of their optimal reproductive times, according to a study published May 15 in the journal Nature Communications. “Corals are critical for the health of the global ocean, but are being increasingly damaged by human activity. This...