Written Article
First Place (14-17 Years Old)
#NYRE2025
The Starless Future: The Silent Crisis of Light Pollution
Looking back, it amazes me that no more than a century ago, anyone whether a kid, teenager or an adult could just look up and see a sky filled with stars. Nowadays in most hustling and bustling cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Singapore the chances of looking up and seeing a single star is close to zero. We have drowned out the beauty of each unique star with bright neon billboards and skyscraper lights reaching higher than the twin towers.
Ironically this issue which has been kept in the shadows for far too long is known as light pollution. Although its effects aren’t as immediate on human health or the ecosystem as air and plastic pollution, it’s still a deadly hazard. While it may provide a sense of safety and convenience at night especially in dark and dingy alleyways, the poorly designed lighting actually has significant consequences on the environment, biodiversity and culture. The consequences of light pollution ripple across ecosystems, human health and culture every single day.
KLCC on a normal Friday (own photo)
The Hidden Costs of Too Much Light
Wildlife in Malaysia
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Baby sea turtles are meant to crawl towards the sea. Recently due to the increased usage of artificial lights they have been crawling away from the sea and towards resorts and street lights, thus reducing survival rates.
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Migratory birds flying over Malaysia use the moon and stars for navigation. Consequently bright city lights disorient them, leading them to collide with buildings causing injuries and at times death.
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Just by stepping outside onto the street, we can so easily see fireflies being attracted to the street lamps which often lead to their premature death.
Fireflies being attracted to light (Photo by Emma Stefansky from bugstack)
Impact on Human Health
There have been studies that show exposure to as little as 6 lux which is about the brightness of a dim streetlamp can suppress melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep. Malaysians in urban areas such as Bukit Damansara and Mont Kiara are exposed to 24-hour light through street lamps, electronic billboards, or even ‘light trespass’ from neighbours. This leads to higher rates of insomnia, depression, obesity, and reduced immunity.
Impact on Economy and Climate
The International Dark Sky Association has estimated that 30% of outdoor lighting is wasted. In countries like Malaysia, where we’re still ever so dependent on electricity generated from fossil fuels, this means unnecessary carbon emissions. The extra glow in Kuala Lumpur doesn’t just block the stars from view, it also worsens the climate crisis.
When the Stars Go Dark
Here lies the turning point. Light pollution is not just about not being able to see a few dots in the sky but rather it's about losing a part of who we are.
For generations, Malaysians in villages could take a single step into the outdoors and see the Milky Way stretching across the sky. The stars guided fishermen at sea and inspired traditional stories such as the “Bintang Tujuh” and “Bintang Tiga Beradik”. But today, a child like myself growing up in Kuala Lumpur may never once see the Milky Way.
If the stars are to ever vanish, so too does our link to nature, culture, and our perspective on our place in the universe.
Lighting the Way Forward
Here is the moment of truth which is that light pollution is reversible.
1. Individual Level
We can switch off unused lights, choose solar lamps, and let daylight in instead of relying on bulbs all the time.
2. Community Level
Malaysia could protect places like Kuala Selangor’s firefly park or Penang Hill by limiting riverside lighting. These areas could shine as eco-tourism spots for both stars and nature.
3. National / Global Level
Councils can install shielded street lamps and warmer LEDs, just like Flagstaff in the US or Montsec in Spain. If they can protect their skies, why can’t we?
Conclusion
While in the city, have you ever looked up and barely seen any stars? Although sad, that’s exactly what light pollution is. And honestly, it is worse than most people believe. We could either keep living with all this bright artificial light, or we can try to fix it so we can see the stars once again.
A lot of people think light pollution only messes up the night sky. That’s just one of many effects. It hurts our health, confuses animals, and even takes away the magic of looking up. If we start thinking about how we use lights, Malaysia could save energy, help turtles and fireflies, and maybe even bring back the view of the Milky Way.
If the stars disappear for good, it will be too late. The good news? It's up to us. We can be the architects of our future. If everyone works together, I truly believe we can make the night sky beautiful again. My grandmother once told me how she used to see the Milky Way stretch across the sky above her home in Ipoh. Our children deserve that same gift. To look up, spot constellations, and perhaps find a few stars of their own as the beauty of the sky should not be a privilege.
REFERENCES
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Falchi, F., Cinzano, P., Duriscoe, D., Kyba, C. C., Elvidge, C. D., Baugh, K., & Furgoni, R. (2016). The New World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness. Science Advances, 2(6), e1600377.
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International Dark-Sky Association. (n.d.). Light pollution. Retrieved September 17, 2025, from https://www.darksky.org
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Columbia University Consilience Journal. (n.d.). Wasted energy and light pollution. Retrieved September 17, 2025, from https://consiliencejournal.org
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ScienceDaily. (2019, March 25). Artificial light at night suppresses melatonin in humans and animals. Retrieved September 17, 2025, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190325114832.htm
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WWF-Malaysia. (n.d.). Sea turtles and coastal lighting issues. Retrieved September 17, 2025, from https://www.wwf.org.my
Divyaa Lakshmi Naicker
SMK Seri Hartamas