--- title: "Scientists Have Coined a Devastating New Term for Not Being Able to See the Stars at Night" description: "If you've found yourself mourning the sight of stars in the night sky due to light pollution, you aren't alone. Now, there's a word for it." date: "2023-09-19" modified: "2023-09-19" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-devastating-new-term-stars-light-pollution" categories: - "Environment" - "Pollution" - "Science & Energy" tags: - "light pollution" - "night sky" - "stars" - "the digest" --- # Scientists Have Coined a Devastating New Term for Not Being Able to See the Stars at Night ![]() *\Image: Getty Images\* ## Sky Grief If you've found yourself mourning the ability to see stars in the night sky, you aren't alone. As Flatiron Institute astrophysicist Paul Sutter [writes for *Space.com*](), this feeling is so prevalent that astronomers have come up with a name for it. Presented back in June in both a [yet-to-be-peer-reviewed paper]() and a [letter published in the journal *Science*](), the term represents a distinct form of "sky grief," or the feeling of a deep sense of loss for the nighttime smattering of stars and constellations that humans in urban environments rarely get a glimpse of. The astronomers have dubbed this phenomenon "noctalgia" — and yes, it has us in our feels, too. ## Noctalgiacore Though stars are still visible in rural and sparsely populated areas, those who live in or nearby cities are hard-pressed to get a view of even the sky's brightest stars, with scientists reporting in a different [June study]() that Earth's sky has, on average, gotten brighter by [about 9.6 percent every year]() since 2011. The original inventors of the term argue that this excess of light — which has gotten much worse with the [advent of LED lights]() — impacts several aspects of human life and society. Humans and animals alike follow [embedded circadian rhythms](), or an internal system that follows the Earth's 24-hour cycle, and [research]() has shown that light pollution can disrupt these natural cycles. Light pollution [confuses these light-dependent patterns](), making some animals especially vulnerable to predators or, conversely, rendering predators unable to hunt. Elsewhere, the phenomenon is also known to hamper [breeding and migration patterns](). Physiological effects aside, the astronomers also argue that the phenomenon represents a cultural loss. After all, human societies have long been built around natural light cycles, and the celestial realm above us has been a source of mythology, religion, and wonder for thousands of years. Without the night sky as a visible anchor, it's certainly worth asking: who are we? Noctalgia "represents far more than mere loss of environment," the researchers wrote in the June *ArXiv* submission, adding that "we are witnessing loss of heritage, place-based language, identity, storytelling, millennia-old sky traditions and our ability to conduct traditional practices grounded in the ecological integrity of what we call home." **More on noctalgia:** [*Stars Are Disappearing from the Night Sky, Scientists Warn*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()