Light pollution doesn’t just obscure the heavens—it could seriously damage our health

If you can’t see the stars in the night sky, you’re far from alone.

More than one-third of the world cannot see the Milky Way, according to new research measuring light pollution around the globe. Some 99% of Americans and Europeans have light-obstructed views.

That does more than block us from contemplating our place in the universe. Watch the video above to see the extent of the problem—and the wide-reaching consequences it can have.