Light + Health

By Alexander Willemsen, MSE Based on a paper authored by Eric Bretschneider, Ph.D. The Circadian Stimulus (CS) model is one of the most well-known models for quantifying the circadian impact of lighting. One striking feature that separates the model from other contemporary circadian lighting models is its discontinuous action spectrum. As a consequence, the predicted [...]

  Illuminate the Future of Light and Well-Being at Canada Light Expo 2025 in Toronto, ON, November 12 & 13, 2025. On November 13 at 8:15 AM, at the Canada Light Expo, All Things Lighting® Association will host an interactive workshop titled “Unplugged but Illuminated – Finding Balance in a Technological World.” This engaging session [...]

  A large-scale study by Flinders University analyzed over 13 million hours of light exposure data from 88,905 people aged 40 and older, revealing that bright light at night significantly increases the risk of heart failure and heart attack. Those exposed to the highest levels of nighttime light (measured in lux) had a 56% greater [...]

By Dr. Martin Moore-Ede, Publisher, The Light Doctor If you want to know which wavelengths of light are most important for sustaining human health, look at the opsins. These light-sensitive proteins are a key component of the photopigments in the eye. Each detects specific wavelengths of light and triggers specific physiological responses. Bound to a [...]

  A major breakthrough in targeted cancer treatment utilizes an innovative therapy of light-activated molecules to destroy malignant cells, while leaving normal skin tissue intact. The study centers on a new photodynamic therapy (PDT) approach that employs microscopic flakes of tin, called “SnOx nanoflakes,” in which “Sn” refers to the chemical symbol for tin. These [...]

By Carson Alsop, WELL Faculty & Manager of Lutron Electronics’ two New York City Experience Centers We now spend nearly 90 percent of our time indoors, making interior design more critical than ever to our health and well-being. Across green building standards like WELL and the Living Building Challenge, daylight and biophilia are central themes. [...]

  Researchers have identified a new cancer treatment approach using molecules dubbed molecular jackhammers (MJHs), which are aminocyanines capable of mechanically disrupting cancer cell membranes through vibronic-driven action (VDA) when activated by near-infrared light. Key Concept: Vibronic-Driven Action VDA operates through subpicosecond whole-molecule vibrations of aminocyanines bound to cell membranes, initiated by targeted light exposure [...]

  Circadian lighting in hospital wards was found to significantly reduce falls among patients, by 50%, according to a retrospective observational study published in Healthcare (Basel), in July 2025. Study Context and Purpose Falls in hospitalized patients remain a major safety and health concern, often leading to complications, increased length of stay, and greater healthcare [...]

By Christa Belasco, PE, IALD, LC, Senior Lighting Designer, HGA For individuals with neurological conditions such as autism, Asperger’s, ADHD, or Sensory Processing Disorders, a simple visit to the doctor can become an overwhelming sensory experience. Individuals with certain neurological conditions can be particularly sensitive to the sub-visible flicker of direct lighting sources, frequencies that neurotypical [...]