news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4799445.stm

Constant exposure to artificial hospital lighting may damage the development of premature babies' biological clocks, research suggests.

Tests showed exposing baby mice to constant light keeps the master biological clock in their brains from developing properly.

Researchers said this could contribute to an increased risk of mood disorders, such as depression.

Previous research has found infants from neonatal units with cyclic lighting tend to begin sleeping through the night more quickly, and gain weight faster than those from units with constant lighting.

...so, if you want to lose weight, leave the light on...

How can they tell if a baby mouse is suffering from a mood disorder or depression ?
No wonder much of the world sneers at scientists nowadays.

So are you going to campaign using this angle in the light pollution front???

Giving the right link would have been a good idea :roll:

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4799445.stm

How can they tell if a baby mouse is suffering from a mood disorder or depression ?
No wonder much of the world sneers at scientists nowadays.

Thats not what they claim, apologies for not giving the correct link. They are saying that the 'body clock' is disrupted, not that they have depressed mice.

In humans, research has shown possible links between this distuption and mood disorders.

Nope!

I am at present checking out Local Authority websites all over Ireland and the story is dire.

For every voice against lights there are 1000 who want them.

Indeed when I asked Billy Kelleher TD's staff if 81 (minimum) new street lights were all necessary for the Blarney Electoral Area (between 2006 & 2008) I was looked at as if I were a bit dotty.

(Funded by "Infrastructure Deficiency Fund & General Roads Planning Charges Programme"...a mouthful.)

I am not blaming one innocent politician. It is happening in every parish in Ireland.

Now that we are the second richest country on the planet we are making up for lost time by becoming the second most light polluted pretty soon.

Check out your own local authority plans.
Log on to "public lighting" pages in their websites.
(I'll get back to you later with some details I have already got.)

Talking about depressed baby mice only makes us look like we are pulling people's legs.

Regards,
Peter.

Talking about depressed baby mice only makes us look like we are pulling people's legs.

Then don't talk about it.

Anyway proper caring mouse mothers keep their little darlings safely tucked under the floorboards away from cats and light pollution.