F2F Class Notes (Nemo) [R]

Vocabulary

side effect (n): 1-an unpleasant effect of a drug that happens in addition to the main effect:
E.g.: Does this drug have any side effects?

intrusion (n): 1-an occasion when someone goes into a place or situation where they are not wanted or expected to be:
E.g.: They complained about excessive government intrusion (= unwanted involvement) into their legitimate activities.

intruder (n): 1-someone who is in a place or situation where they are not wanted: 2 -someone who enters a place without permission in order to commit a crime:
E.g.1: I feel like an intruder when I visit their home.
E.g.2: Intruders had entered the house through a back window.

plunge (v): 1- to (cause someone or something to) move or fall suddenly and often a long way forward, down, or into something:
E.g.: We ran down to the beach and plunged into the sea.
E.g.: The car went out of control and plunged over the cliff.

journal (n): 1-a serious magazine or newspaper that is published regularly about a particular subject:
E.g.: a medical/trade journal

impair (v): 1-to spoil something or make it weaker so that it is less effective:
E.g.: A recurring knee injury may have impaired his chances of winning the tournament.

recurring (adj): 1-happening many times, or happening again:
E.g.: Francis suffered all his life from a recurring nightmare that he was trapped in a falling house.

consumption (n): 1-the amount used or eaten:
E.g.: As a nation, our consumption of junk food is horrifying.

nocturnal (adj): 1-happening in or active during the night, or relating to the night:
E.g.: nocturnal wanderings
E.g.: nocturnal light
E.g.: Most bats are nocturnal.

microorganism (n): 1-a living thing that on its own is too small to be seen without a microscope
E.g.: The scientist was doing research on microorganisms.

evolution (n): 1-the way in which living things change and develop over millions of years: 2-a gradual process of change and development:
E.g.1: Darwin’s theory of evolution
E.g.2: the evolution of language

mammal (n): 1-any animal of which the female feeds her young on milk from her own body. Most mammals give birth to live young, not eggs:
E.g.: Humans, dogs, elephants, and dolphins are all mammals, but birds, fish, and crocodiles are not.

Reading

The amount and brightness of light from towns and cities around the world is at such a high level that it is reducing the darkness of night. Once upon a time, when night-time fell, we were plunged into darkness. Things are different, and brighter today. A study published in the journal Science Advances reports that artificial light at night is increasing in most countries worldwide. Scientists say it grew by 2.2 per cent a year between 2012 and 2016. The intrusion of artificial light into our night-time is causing us many problems. The International Dark-Sky Association says it, “is not only impairing our view of the universe, it is adversely affecting our environment, our safety, our energy consumption and our health”.

Study co-author Franz Holker said artificial light is a threat to our natural environment. He said: “Artificial light is an environmental pollutant that threatens nocturnal animals and affects plants and microorganisms.” He added: “[It] has ecological and evolutionary implications for many organisms from bacteria to mammals, including us humans, and may reshape entire social ecological systems.” Many environmentalists thought the introduction of LED lights would help the planet. However, cities are using more LED lights because they are cheaper, which is adding to the light pollution. Night-time light decreased in 16 countries, including war-torn nations such as Yemen and Syria.