Ethan Siegel is a Ph.D. astrophysicist and author of "Starts with a Bang!" (https://www.startswithabang.com/) He is a science communicator, who has taught physics and astronomy at various colleges. He has won numerous awards for science writing since 2008 for his blog, including the award for best science blog by the Institute of Physics. His two books "Treknology: The Science of Star Trek from Tricorders to Warp Drive" and "Beyond the Galaxy: How humanity looked beyond our Milky Way and discovered the entire Universe". Nisse Greenberg worked full time for The Story Collider, and has been involved in storytelling for 10 years now, teaching for The Moth and Story Collider as well as producing shows all over the place. https://nissegreenberg.com/ Salman Hameed has a PhD in astronomy and is Charles Taylor Chair and Professor of Integrated Science & Humanities at Hampshire College, and a member of the Five College Astronomy Department (FCAD) in Massachusetts, USA. He is also the CEO of the non-profit Kainaat Studios. You can find more information about Kainaat Studios here: https://www.kainaatstudios.com/ Reference articles: The humiliating truth behind Harvard astronomer’s “alien” spherules: https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/truth-harvard-astronomer-alien-spherules/ A science communicator’s 4 rules of persuasion https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/science-communicator-4-rules-of-persuasion/ Credits: Hosts: Nisse Greenberg & Salman Hameed Editor: Shehryar Shaikh Music: "Butterfly in Space" by Zohaib Kazi Support for Kainaat Studios is provided by: Galactic Orbiters (Founding Supporters): Sahr Foundation Qazi Family Foundation PixelEdge Stellar Orbiters: Dr. Zafar Iqbal & Dr. Mehr Iqbal Ashraf Qazi Aimen Khan Slavena Emilova Molle Abid & Farah Donation Fund AIIR Foundation Space Orbiters: Dr. Abdul Nadir Dr. Asad Ansari Dr. Salman Mallick Dr. Tariq Hameed Asif Alam Zubair Faiz Dr. Kamran Manzoor Dr. Arsalan Malik Junaid Qurashi Thank you to all our other monthly donors as well! If you want to donate, please visit https://www.kainaatstudios.com/donate Chapters: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:00 - Deciding factor on what to talk about 00:06:05 - How has it changed over the years 00:10:55 - Target Audience 00:18:55 - Difference in teaching to content creation 00:24:00 - Approach on a selected topic 00:31:08 - How science should be communicated 00:39:20 - Style of Science 00:45:31 - Responsible ways of doing science 00:48:00 - Translating scientific conflict to public 00:56:50 - What questions to ask 01:02:10 - Future of Science Communication

Guest: Dr Jenni Metcalfe is director of Econnect Communication, established in 1995. As a science communicator for more than 30 years, she has worked as a journalist, practitioner, university lecturer and researcher. She is the author of numerous research papers and book chapters on science communication. https://www.econnect.com.au/jenni-metcalfe/ Hosts: Nisse Greenberg worked full time for The Story Collider, and has been involved in storytelling for 10 years now, teaching for The Moth and Story Collider as well as producing shows all over the place. https://nissegreenberg.com/ Salman Hameed has a PhD in astronomy and is Charles Taylor Chair and Professor of Integrated Science & Humanities at Hampshire College, and a member of the Five College Astronomy Department (FCAD) in Massachusetts, USA. He is also the CEO of the non-profit Kainaat Studios. You can find more information about Kainaat Studios here: https://www.kainaatstudios.com/

Light pollution is often overlooked — but it’s quietly transforming our world. As bright city lights drown out the stars, astronomers aren't the only ones who are affected. Wildlife behavior is disrupted, ecosystems are thrown off balance, and even human health is at risk. This International Dark Sky Week, we shed light on the importance of darkness. In this special episode of Chai on Science and Society, astrophysicist Salman Hameed sits down with James Lowenthal, the Mary Elizabeth Moses Professor of Astronomy at Smith College and a leading voice in the global movement to protect our night skies. Together, they explore: 🔭 How astronomical observations are compromised by increasing urban light 🦉 The surprising effects of artificial light on nocturnal animals, from birds to insects 🧬 The connection between light exposure and disrupted sleep cycles, mental health, and even hormonal imbalances in humans 🌃 What cities and individuals can do to reduce light pollution and restore natural darkness 🌌 Why reconnecting with the stars may be essential for our cultural and scientific imagination From skyglow to smart lighting solutions, and from grassroots advocacy to international dark-sky parks, this episode brings attention to a silent crisis — and how we can all be part of the solution. 🌌 International Dark Sky Week 2025 is a global event held from April 20 to April 26, dedicated to raising awareness about light pollution, protecting night skies, and promoting astronomy and environmental conservation. Founded by DarkSky International, this annual event invites communities around the world to turn off unnecessary lights, enjoy stargazing, and learn how artificial light affects wildlife, ecosystems, and human health. 🌠✨ Join us in celebrating International Dark Sky Week 2025 by learning how the preservation of darkness can bring brighter outcomes for our planet. Here is Professor Lowenthal's extensive resource on light pollution: https://www.science.smith.edu/~jlowenth/lightpollution/lightpollution.html For International Dark Sky Week: https://idsw.darksky.org/ For information on light pollution and the steps that you can take to help, please visit: International Dark Sky Association: https://www.darksky.org/ International Astronomical Union Commission: https://www.iau.org/public/themes/lig... IAU Light Pollution Brochure: https://www.iau.org/public/images/det... #darksky #lightpollution #astronomynews #stargazing #nightsky #preservation #ecotourism #wildlifeconservation #podcast #astronomyadventures #astrophysics #environmentalawareness #environmentalprotection #environmentalscience #environmentalimpact #darkyskyweek #JamesLowenthal #urdu Salman Hameed has a PhD in astronomy and is Charles Taylor Chair and Professor of Integrated Science & Humanities at Hampshire College, and a member of the Five College Astronomy Department (FCAD) in Massachusetts, USA. He is also the CEO of the non-profit Kainaat Studios. You can find more information about Kainaat Studios here: https://www.kainaatstudios.com/ Credits: Host: Salman Hameed Guest: James Lowenthal Editor: Shehryar Shaikh Music: "Butterfly in Space" by Zohaib Kazi Support for Kainaat Studios is provided by: Galactic Orbiters (Founding Supporters): Sahr Foundation Qazi Family Foundation PixelEdge Stellar Orbiters: Dr. Zafar Iqbal & Dr. Mehr Iqbal Ashraf Qazi Aimen Khan Slavena Emilova Molle Abid & Farah Donation Fund AIIR Foundation Space Orbiters: Dr. Abdul Nadir Dr. Asad Ansari Dr. Salman Mallick Dr. Tariq Hameed Asif Alam Zubair Faiz Dr. Kamran Manzoor Dr. Arsalan Malik Junaid Qurashi Thank you to all our other monthly donors as well! If you want to donate, please visit https://www.kainaatstudios.com/donate Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 02:00 - Importance of seeing the Milky Way 08:59 - Dark Sky International week 14:12 - Dedicated Dark Sky places 18:17 - Astro tourism 20:15 - Environmental issue 27:13 - Light's impact on the ecosystem 35:02 - Measures to reduce light pollution 37:28 - Balance of Safety and lights 41:53 - Dark sky week awareness