The night sky is getting 10% brighter every year — and we're forgetting what darkness feels like

We’re forgetting what darkness feels like

Light pollution is growing 10% annually, and 80% of people now live under washed-out skies. In this first-person essay, Tove Danovich describes lying under the Milky Way in Oregon's outback and argues that darkness is a right worth protecting — not just for stargazers, but for migrating birds, pollinators, and human health. Cities like Flagstaff, Arizona, show that sensible lighting rules can bring the stars back.