Science Snapshots: April 12, 2026

New data challenge the traditional view that nightlights are becoming brighter everywhere. Based on satellite data from 2014 to 2022 of artificial nightlight, researchers found a nightscape both brightening and dimming. While global brightening, mainly due to urban expansion and rural electrification, increased radiance by 34% from 2014, dimming due to energy-saving policies, using LEDs, and conflicts offset nearly half of that growth. They concluded that both brightening and dimming have intensified over the last decade.