In the News

Below is a select list of news articles and other media coverage of LRC projects.
For more information, contact Rebekah Mullaney, LRC communications manager.

How staying indoors affects your immune system
BBC Future - May 2020
While staying inside our homes is helping to shield us from the pandemic, missing out on time outdoors might alter our risk of catching diseases in other ways.

Let the Sunshine In
The New York Times - April 2020
Sunlight is not a cure for coronavirus, but it does have other benefits for mind and body.

Delivering Circadian Stimulus In An Office Space While Minimizing Energy Use
LD+A - April 2020
The LRC has developed lighting design guidelines intended to aid designers in developing circadian-effective lighting solutions, while also maintaining energy efficiency and meeting local energy-code requirements.

3D Printing: Can it work for lighting?
LD+A - April 2020
Additive manufacturing has been declared by some as the future of manufacturing and as a game-changer for the global economy.

LRC online calculator helps horticultural growers choose luminaires
LEDs Magazine - April 2020
The free tool prioritizes photosynthetic photon flux to compare the lifecycle costs of buying and running lighting systems for indoor farms.

How to Get the Bedroom of Your Dreams
The New York Times - March 2020
It’s not difficult to create a room where you can get a good night’s sleep — if you follow a few simple steps.

Picking A Lightbulb, Made Easy
NPR - January 2020
Earlier this month, we were thrilled to have Jeff Brady from NPR visit our lab to interview Dr. Mariana Figueiro for NPR Life Kit. You can listen to the full episode here or on your favorite podcast app.

New studies show cycles of blue and red light promote circadian entrainment
LEDs Magazine - December 2019
LRC collaboration with GSA finds morning blue light and afternoon red light promote entrainment and increase alertness in office workers.

Better Daytime Lighting Improves Sleep, Reduces Depression In Alzheimer's Patients
NPR - December 2019
Dr. Mariana Figueiro recently spoke with NPR's Jeremy Hobson about her new study on circadian lighting for older adults with Alzheimer's disease.

Light Therapy May Brighten Alzheimer's Disease Outcomes
Medscape Medical News - December 2019
Focused light therapy may improve sleep and reduce symptoms of depression and agitation in patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, new research suggests.

Industry leaders shape the future of lighting at the LRC Summit
LEDs Magazine - November 2019
Key moments from the Lighting Research Center's latest "progress report" on studies that are driving efforts toward effective and sustainable lighting.

Light the Way: Human-Centric Lighting Puts Occupant Comfort First
Retrofit Magazine - October 2019
“We need to stop designing lighting just to save energy or occupy a ceiling grid. We need to start focusing on the occupants of the building.” –Mariana Figueiro, LRC Director

LRC receives HCL funding, adds LEDVANCE to Light and Health Alliance
LEDs Magazine - August 2019
The National Institute on Aging has provided $3.8 million in research funding to the Lighting Research Center to cover intervention treatment that could someday prevent dementia. Meanwhile, the LRC’s Light and Health Alliance has announced LEDVANCE as a new member.

SPHP Partners with RPI for Alzheimer’s Study
St. Peter's Health Partners News - August 2019
Eddy Hawthorne Ridge in East Greenbush has partnered with Mariana Figueiro, Ph.D., professor and director at the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, for her study on tailored light therapy for Alzheimer’s patients.

RPI lighting expert wins grant for anti-dementia research
The Times Union - August 2019
Can better lighting help stave off dementia and even Alzheimer’s disease? Mariana Figueiro, director of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lighting Research Center, thinks it can and she just received some help to find out.

How LED Lights Are Revolutionizing Our Homes, Neighborhoods And Roads
NPR - July 2019
Mark Rea, professor at the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, tells NPR’s Jeremy Hobson that the benefits of LED lights “really make it kind of a slam dunk for a transformation in the way light sources are sold.”

Have trouble sleeping? ‘Blue light’ may be to blame. There are some possible remedies.
Washington Post - June 2019
Even if you know that looking at a phone, tablet or computer screen at night is bad for your sleep, it’s hard to stop. That’s one reason there has been a growing interest in glasses or apps that can block the blue parts of the light spectrum.

Sowing the Seeds of Sustainable Food and Agriculture
LD+A - June 2019
From mildew control to insect dosing, research at the LRC is aggressively pursuing improvements in horticultural lighting.

Does Circadian Lighting Work?
Architect Magazine - June 2019
Lighting manufacturers are offering systems allegedly attuned with our circadian rhythms. Three experts, including Dr. Mariana Figueiro of the Lighting Research Center, discuss whether these products have an impact.

The Lighting Research Center Is Making Exciting Connections Between Light, Color, and Well-Being
Metropolis Magazine - April 2019
Research scientist Mariana Figueiro prescribes light exposure the way a medical doctor might call for a round of high-powered antibiotics: in precise doses at specific times of day. To achieve optimal sleep and mood patterns, for instance, she advises going out into daylight for at least 30 minutes first thing in the morning.

LRC adding graduate program in tunable lighting for crops and plants
LEDs Magazine - April 2019
The LRC plans to add a new Master’s and PhD curriculum on lighting for plant health and growth in time for its Spring 2021 semester, roughly two years from now.

Worry about the amount of light at night more than the blue wavelengths
LEDs Magazine - April 2019
A top lighting research group has reported that the amount of light at night can potentially disturb sleep much more than can blue spectrum in the light. The findings marked the second time in a year that the group has downplayed the detrimental sleep effects of blue compared to other factors, such as brightness.

Beyond the ‘cool’ factor, 3-D printing set to enable SSL customization
LEDs Magazine - Feb 2019
The LRC's Nadarajah Narendran recently spoke with LEDs Magazine on the future of 3D printing for solid-state lighting.

Architectural Lighting: The Case for More Research
Architect Magazine - Feb 2019
“Everybody’s a bit concerned about having only one light source to choose from,” says Mariana Figueiro, director of the Lighting Research Center (LRC). “There is no R&D on any other light source. Everything is LEDs."

Quick questions on human-centric lighting with Lori Brock
LEDs Magazine - Nov/Dec 2018
Interview with Lori Brock, Head of Innovation Americas at OSRAM, on human-centric lighting, the current state of research, and commercial developments that are underway.

USDA Invests $4.7 Million to Address Critical Plant Pest Problems
Growing Produce - November 2018
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture recently awarded 16 applied research and development grants to enhance the development, adoption, and implementation of innovative, ecologically-based, sustainable integrated pest management technologies.

Light Matters
Every Day Matters - October 2018
A few simple ways to apply LRC Light & Health research in daily life.

Lighting Interventions Can Touch Many
LD+A - October 2018
Three research initiatives at the LRC explore the potential of human-centric lighting.

On Her Wavelength
Proto - Sept. 21, 2018
"Indoor light can affect health in good ways and bad. Photobiologist Mariana Figueiro wants to get patients the optimal exposure." — by Stacy Lu

Seeing disease in a new light
Greenhouse Canada - Sept. 19, 2018
Research scientists Dr. Jaimin Patel and Leora Radetsky are exploring light as a way to mitigate disease. Their research looks at using visible and ultraviolet (UV) light against powdery mildew and downy mildew – two of the most common diseases in the greenhouse.

Controlling basil downy mildew might be as simple as turning on a light
Hort Americas - August 28, 2018
The use of supplemental light to control downy mildew on food and ornamental crops could be integrated into current disease management practices.

Age of Enlightenment: The Promise of Circadian Lighting
Undark - May 21, 2018
"The impacts of artificial lighting on human health are not fully understood, but many scientists say enough is known to warrant dramatic changes now." — by Lynne Peeples

These Lights Are Like a Mood Ring for Your Room
The New York Times - May 8, 2018
"The Lighting Research Center has partnered with the U.S. Navy to test circadian lighting in submarines; it has collaborated with Mount Sinai Hospital in New York to evaluate the light’s use in recovery rooms for transplant patients; and it has worked with the National Institute on Aging to increase the comfort of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease."

What I learned by living without artificial light
BBC - April 25, 2018
“Our study revealed that if you are three, four, five feet from the window, you lose the daylight,” said Dr. Mariana Figueiro. “It’s not just your distance from the window that matters. You have partitions, people pulling the shades. Having a window doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to get good daylight.”

The Benefits of Bright Light for Hospital Patients
The Wall Street Journal - April 14, 2018
LRC research is featured in this WSJ article on circadian lighting for hospitals.

"Health Check"
BBC World News - March 28, 2018
Listen to this BBC report on LRC Office Lighting research [story starts at 18:00 minutes]

Shine a Healing Light: Circadian-Based Lighting in Hospitals
Medscape Medical News - February 28, 2018
"Giving hospital patients a robust light/dark lighting pattern is the most logical thing to do to promote synchronization of the body's biological clock, and we're seeing many health benefits." --Interview with Dr. Mariana Figueiro

Major contributors in LED and lighting standards have led the SSL revolution
LEDs Magazine - February 2018
LRC's Dr. Nadarajah Narendran is acknowledged for his major contributions to the research and standards process that has enabled the broad adoption and commercialization of LED lighting.

Sorry, Bedtime Readers: iPads Keep You Awake Even With Night Shift On
Fast Company - February 12, 2018
Exclusive with LRC Director Dr. Mariana Figueiro! New research shows that the “warm” screen color of Apple's Night Shift has a negligible impact on melatonin, although there could be a psychological effect, i.e., warm tones are cited as being more relaxing.

Is 3-D printing the next frontier for the LED lighting industry?
LEDs Magazine - January 31, 2018
Drs. Nadarajah Narendran and Indika Perera discuss the possibilities for additive manufacturing in the LED and solid-state lighting industries.

A Greener, More Healthful Place to Work
The New York Times - January 11, 2018
Dr. Mariana Figueiro offers her expert views on the importance of good lighting and circadian entrainment in the workplace in this article published in The New York Times.

Human-centric lighting takes hold in the commercial workplace
LEDs Magazine - October 17, 2017
LRC Director Dr. Mariana Figueiro explains the results of human-centric lighting studies at five General Services Administration office locations in the US. Participants receiving prescribed dosages of circadian-effective light exhibited improved sleep and reduced depression and stress.

Rethinking Exposure to Saturated Colored Light
Architectural Lighting - September 26, 2017
Mariana Figueiro, LRC Director, discusses the science behind exposure to saturated colored light, and explains how doses of red and blue light can be used to promote daytime alertness and improve nighttime sleep.

Passion for progress drives science into applications of solid-state lighting
LEDs Magazine - September 8, 2017
Carrie Meadows, associate editor of LEDs Magazine, attends the LRC's 2017 Partner-Alliance event and shares her observations on the research and programs highlighted by LRC scientists.

Five Projects in Five Pages
LD+A - July 2017
This feature article profiles five recent and ongoing LRC projects that, through collaborations with the leading manufacturers and government agencies that comprise the LRC Partners and Alliances, are transforming the way we light the world.

Is Blue Light Bad For Your Health?
WebMD Health News - June 19, 2017
Mariana Figueiro, PhD, light and health program director at the Lighting Research Center in Troy, NY, stresses that in addition to minimizing bright blue-hued light—especially from gadgets held close to the eyes—at night, we should try to maximize the amount of bright light we get during the day. “It not only makes you more awake and alert by day; research suggests it may also make you less sensitive to the negative health consequences of light at night,” she says.

Daily Wisdom: Morning sun can get you on a better sleep schedule
Furthermore - June 14, 2017
Interview with Dr. Mariana Figueiro, Professor and Light and Health Program Director at the Lighting Research Center. "Seek light during the day from any source, electric or daylight, especially in the morning," she advises.

Why light is so important for seniors' health
The Sacramento Bee - June 5, 2017
New color-changing lights that match the body's circadian rhythms have helped residents of a local senior living community see more clearly and sleep more soundly.

Work continues on three LED lighting reliability standards
LEDs Magazine - June 2017
Lighting standards expert Dr. Jianzhong Jiao details activity in IEC, IES, and the Lighting Research Center ASSIST program in defining LED lamp and luminaire testing standards that can enable fair comparisons by lighting designers, specifiers, and end users.

Industry test standards must evolve to ensure accurate LED system life estimates
LEDs Magazine - June 2017
In this article, Dr. Nadarajah Narendran discusses LRC research focused on LED system reliability, and the development of an accelerated method to accurately predict LED system life within a 3000-hour testing period.

Morning daylight exposure tied to a good night's sleep
Reuters - May 18, 2017
Workers who are exposed to sunlight or bright indoor lights during the morning hours sleep better at night and tend to feel less depressed and stressed than those who don't get much morning light, according to a recent study by the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

LED has potential to end use of pesticides in farming
Lux Review - April 25, 2017
LED light is able to reduce disease in plants, a discovery that could, ultimately, lead to the redundancy of expensive and unpopular pesticides. Interview with LRC scientist Dr. Jaimin Patel.

Beyond The Task Of Illumination
Facility Executive magazine - April 2017
Americans spend more than 90% of their time indoors, yet little attention has been given to understanding how light affects health in the built environment. A team of researchers at the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, is working to change that.

Promising Innovations for the Lighting Profession
Architectural Lighting - April 5, 2017
Experts reveal the technologies that are changing their day-to-day practices and the industry as a whole, featuring LRC scientists Mariana Figueiro and Mark Rea.

The new lighting in Metro is like sitting in a Xerox machine. And it’s driving us crazy.
Washington Post - April 5, 2017
Walking into an old Metro car is like walking into 1976, the year Metro opened. The fluorescent light in the 1000-series rail car is buttery, retro and forgiving, as if designed to flatter Robert Redford in "Three Days of the Condor."

Scientists Say This Simple Little Office Hack Will Increase Your Productivity
Money - April 3, 2017
You've probably heard of circadian rhythms, the natural body cycles that help us to do things like fall asleep at nighttime and be active during the day. Now, a group of researchers are working to manipulate those rhythms to make us more productive at work.

The Rhythm of Light: Circadian Lighting Supports Health and Wellbeing in the Office Environment
Retrofit magazine - March/April 2017
In a project funded by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), LRC researchers are investigating how to effectively use electric lighting to ensure that every worker receives enough light during the day to support health and wellbeing in the office environment.

Quantifying Circadian Light and Its Impact
Architectural Lighting - February 2017
In the most recent issue of Architectural Lighting magazine, LRC scientists Mariana Figueiro and Mark Rea explain how to quantify circadian light and its impact. The article was also published online, and quickly rose to become one of the most popular and widely-shared on the magazine's website.

Light at night may disrupt sleep and health
USA TODAY - January 22, 2017
These are among the darkest days of the year — or they would be, if we lived like our ancestors, with nothing but the stars and moon to light our way between sunset and sunrise.

How to design circadian lighting – by top scientists
LUX Magazine - December 2016
US scientists have developed a special tool to help designers create lighting installations which affect the sleep-wake cycle.

Lighting Research Center Expands Educational Program, Offers Paid Externships
Light India International, Indian Society of Lighting Engineers Magazine - Nov/Dec 2016
Dr. Narendran discusses the LRC's newly expanded M.S. in Lighting program, which now includes a paid externship at a leading lighting manufacturer, design firm, or government organization.

Could Light Alleviate Alzheimer's Symptoms?
OZY - November 13, 2016
There may be hope for illuminating the minds of the almost 50 million people who suffer from dementia.

SIL Conference session to focus on the effects of lighting on health
LEDs Magazine - November 11, 2016
At the upcoming Strategies in Light conference (February 28–March 2, 2017; Anaheim, CA) the lead speaker in the Non-Visual Effects of Lighting session will be Dr. Mariana Figueiro, Light and Health Program Director at the Lighting Research Center.

Using Electronic Devices Before Bed Tied to Lousy Sleep
Inside Science - November 9, 2016
Two new studies find that electronic device use near bedtime is linked with poor sleep in children and adults.

Phone use before bedtime is tied to poorer quality sleep
STAT News - November 9, 2016
People who spend more time staring at their phones before bedtime get a worse night’s sleep, researchers found, in the first study that directly measures screen time using a mobile application.

Understanding Rotating Shift Workers' Health Risks
Occupational Health & Safety Magazine - November 2016
Until we know more, it is recommended that lighting in health care facilities should be designed to minimize acute melatonin suppression in night shift workers.

Blue LEDs Light Up Your Brain
Scientific American - November 2016
LRC Light & Health Program Director Mariana Figueiro is featured in this article in the November issue of Scientific American exploring the science of why electronic screens keep you awake at night and what you can do about it.

Research linking networked SSL and 3D printing underway at Lighting Research Center
Laser Focus World - October 6, 2016
Scientists from the Lighting Research Center are planning to install LED lighting with fixture-integrated and network-connected lighting controls in a 25,000 sq ft commercial office on the Rensselaer Technology Park campus.

Designing with Circadian Stimulus
LD+A - October 2016
The Lighting Research Center proposes a metric for applying circadian light in the built environment.

Lighting Research Center expands SSL research capabilities to connected lighting, 3D printing
LEDs Magazine - September 29, 2016
In the past year, the LRC has set a course to support the SSL industry through research that shows the value of lighting beyond energy savings. Embracing the trends toward customization and data analytics, SSL research is now evolving to include new developments such as the Internet of Things and 3D printing.

To improve health, cities are changing their streetlights
CNN - September 29, 2016
"It is very difficult to suppress melatonin," said Mark Rea, director of the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Staring directly at a light source, like a computer screen, may cause the greatest effect on sleep cycles—but the effect is still weak. An indirect light source, like a street lamp outside the window, isn't likely to affect sleeping at all, Rea explained.

In a World Without Drivers...
LD+A - September 2016
A roundtable panel featuring John Bullough, LRC Director of Transportation and Safety Lighting, speculates on the implications of driverless vehicles.

Some cities are taking another look at LED lighting after AMA warning
The Washington Post - September 25, 2016
“The Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., said the lights pose less risk than the AMA suggests. The research center pointed out that the AMA report is based on extended exposure to high-intensity LEDs and said the blue-light hazard of LEDs ‘is probably not a concern to the majority of the population in most lighting applications.’”

As LED Streetlights Spread, Some Critics Look for Dimmer Switch
The Wall Street Journal - September 13, 2016
“John Bullough, director of transportation and safety lighting programs at the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, says the effect of outdoor LEDs on human health hasn’t been clearly established; in fact, he says, the use of computer screens at night might have a stronger effect on sleep disruption than outdoor streetlights.”

BPA releases LRC report on pilot tests of LED lighting and adaptive controls
LEDs Magazine - Aug. 16, 2016
A report created by the Lighting Research Center is posted on the Bonneville Power Administration website detailing tests of LED luminaires and control systems in open office and conference room spaces.

Lighting Research Center summer interns investigate solid-state lighting issues
LEDs Magazine - Aug. 15, 2016
"The ASSIST-sponsored internship is a great opportunity for students to receive mentorship in a research and career field that they may not be aware of, as well as a chance to present their work to organizations that may hire them in the future," said Nadarajah Narendran, the LRC's director of research and organizer of the ASSIST program and internship.

The science behind why office lighting feels like it can make or break your day
Quartz - Aug. 7, 2016
"It's a long putt from lighting to mood. There are a lot of things in between we don't fully understand," says Mark Rea.

Designing for the Dark
Architectural Record - Aug. 1, 2016
Architectural and landscape lighting can be designed so that it is sensitive to the night sky and ecosystems yet still responds to clients' requirements.

Circadian Lighting Patterns Make Healthy Buildings
IMARK Now - Summer 2016
Science has shown the correlation between light exposure and the human circadian cycle, but what does it take to implement a circadian lighting solution in a built environment?

Lighting Research Center Drives Industry Research, Standards
IMARK Now - Summer 2016
"Lighting touches every human endeavor," Rea said. "Over the past 30 years, much of what we've accomplished, from improving lighting standards to educating the next generation of lighting practitioners, is rooted in collaborative research with very diverse stakeholders, each with their own unique perspective on lighting."

Kaine's infrastructure legacy
Politico - Jul. 25, 2016
Sen. Tim Kaine on transportation, news from the FAA on DC airports—and headlight aim, featuring the LRC's John Bullough.

Central Avenue to get brighter lights
Albany Times Union - Jul. 11, 2016
NYSERDA and NYSDOT announce new LED street lights to make Central Ave. safer and reduce energy costs. The project is being led by John Bullough of the LRC.

Lighting Research Center issues response to AMA report on LED lighting
LEDs Magazine - Jul. 1, 2016
The LRC's response to the AMA report on LED lighting attempts to draw attention to the problem of misapplying short-hand metrics to the topic of light and health.

Limitless
LD+A Magazine - June 2016
From designer plants to genetic engineering, LEDs show infinite possibilities in agricultural applications

The Emerging Professional: Step Beyond Your Comfort Zone
LD+A - June 2016
Charlie Jarboe, a recent graduate of the M.S. in Lighting program at Rensselaer, wrote an Emerging Professional column for LD+A, which addresses issues affecting those new to the industry and students considering a career in lighting.

Why Your Sleep App Won't Solve Your Sleep Problems
Fast Company - June 2016
LRC Light & Health Program Director Mariana Figueiro is featured in this Fast Company article on sleep tracking apps.

Five Projects in Five Pages
LD+A - May 2016
This feature article profiles five lighting projects presented at the LRC Partner-Alliance Event last October. Projects include the Galle Fort in Sri Lanka, Breathing Lights, Lighting Patterns for Healthy Buildings, Cypress Cove memory care facility, and LED airfield lighting.

Getting it Right: The value of on-site LED lighting demos
Electrical Contractor - April 2016
Interview with LRC's DELTA (Demonstration and Evaluation of Lighting Technologies and Applications) program director Jennifer Brons.

Do Apps Aimed at Making Gadgets Less Disruptive to Sleep Work?
The Wall Street Journal - April 4, 2016
As more people head to bed with smartphones or tablets, there's increasing focus on the 'blue light' the devices emit. [Interview with Mariana Figueiro]

Apple’s New Night Mode Doesn’t Mean You Should Take Your Tablet To Bed
FiveThirtyEight - March 30, 2016
Must read article by Katherine Hobson in Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight offers a closer look at the science of why screen time can disturb your sleep. [Interview with Mariana Figueiro]

Can Apple's new Night Shift setting help you sleep?
CNN Money - March 25, 2016
"The idea is good, but it is not just about color. The intensity matters too, so color needs to be shifted and intensity needs to be dropped," said Mariana Figueiro in this CNN article, which was picked up by more than 100 news outlets across the U.S.

The new Night Shift feature probably won’t help you sleep better
Macworld - March 25, 2016
Mariana Figueiro's group is "working on an app that would gather information about your light exposure across a day and recommend the best times to get the right light. With remote-controlled, color-variable bulbs from Hue and others, she suggests a future in which this app could change overall lighting to fit your needs...".

Apple's blue light special can help sleep, but not a panacea
San Francisco Chronicle - March 24, 2016
LRC's Mariana Figueiro speaks with the San Francisco Chronicle about the effect of light on sleep. Article later reprinted in the Houston Chronicle.

Using light to improve sleep, reduce agitation
McKnight's Long-Term Care News - March 15, 2016
Must read article on healthy lighting in long-term care facilities, featuring the research of LRC Light & Health Program Director Mariana Figueiro.

South Bend facility sheds light on potential dementia breakthrough
WNDU News Channel 16 - Feb. 17, 2016
LRC Light & Health researchers are conducting studies at hospitals and long-term care facilities across the U.S. to measure whether intense light therapy affects wellbeing of older adults with Alzheimer's. One of the facilities was featured in this inspiring local news story.

The Emerging Professional: Finding Your Passion in Lighting
LD+A - January 2016
LRC senior research specialist and recent Rensselaer graduate Kassandra Gonzales discusses her career path in the emerging field of light and health.

Enlightened minds
APA Monitor on Psychology - January 2016
A growing field of research suggests that surrounding ourselves with the right dose of electric light can boost mood and cognitive function, especially for those most susceptible to sleep disorders.

One-on-One with Mark Rea
Architectural Lighting - Dec. 16, 2015
Elizabeth Donoff, Editor-in-Chief, Architectural Lighting magazine, interviews LRC Director Mark Rea.

The Value Proposition: Going Beyond What's Recommended
LD+A - November 2015
LRC Director Mark Rea discusses 'benefit metrics' in this final installation of the LD+A series, "The Value Proposition."

Circadian Lighting [video]
National Lighting Bureau - Nov. 29, 2015
Panel discussion featuring LRC Professor Mariana Figueiro, Kevin Kampschroer of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and Mary Beth Gotti of GE Lighting.

Lighting the way
The Daily Gazette - Nov. 21, 2015
LRC's John Bullough conducted a demonstration of a prototype crosswalk lighting bollard system in downtown Schenectady, N.Y.

High-Tech Lights to Help Baby Sleep, or Students Stay Alert
The New York Times - Sept. 12, 2015
Mariana Figueiro is quoted in this excellent article by Diane Cardwell of The New York Times. “Lighting is really not about a fixture in the ceiling anymore,” said Figueiro. “It’s about delivering individualized light treatments to people.”

The Value Proposition: Collaboration Can Show Lighting's Benefits
LD+A - August 2015
LRC Director of Research and Rensselaer professor N. Narendran discusses the development and benefit values of solid-state technology through industry collaboration.

Bloomberg Philanthropies Selects Four U.S. Cities to Receive Up to $1 Million Each in Funding for Public Art Projects
Bloomberg - June 23, 2015
Through a collaborative effort, the cities of Albany, Schenectady and Troy, plan to illuminate up to 300 vacant homes over several months. Working with lead artist, Adam Frelin, lead architect, Barbara Nelson, and the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, this multi-site installation aims to regenerate interest in once-vibrant neighborhoods that currently have high vacancy rates.

LRC evaluates adaptive LED headlamps, studying the European Audi A7
LEDs Magazine - June 23, 2015
The Lighting Research Center (LRC) has announced a new research effort focused on the use of advanced LED headlamps and adaptive control of the high beams for driver safety as opposed to the use of separate low-beam lighting.

RPI lighting experts study safer European headlight technology
Times Union - June 21, 2015
John Bullough is featured on the front page (A1) of the Sunday Times Union newspaper re: his study of Advanced Headlight Systems for LRC's Transportation Lighting Alliance, including Audi A7 "matrix lights."

Looking Back: On this date in 1990
Times Union - June 18, 2015
Inside the Lighting Research Center at RPI, soothing fluorescent lights flicked on when the sun went behind a cloud and then dimmed when it came back out. And when people left the room, the lights flicked off, even though nobody touched a switch. It was a glimpse of how buildings would be lit in the future. The center had its sights set on a lofty goal: to become the top lighting research center in the world.

To sleep, perchance.
The Economist - May 16, 2015
Screens before bedtime harm sleep. The effect is biggest for teenagers.

TEDMED: Mariana Figueiro - May 5, 2015
How can we harness the power of light to improve health? Mariana Figueiro, Light & Health Program Director at the Lighting Research Center, explains in her TEDMED talk. Watch the video. For more information, also see Dr. Figueiro's TEDMED guest blog post.

Light Therapy for Better Sleep
Sleep Review - May 4, 2015
The benefits of lighting that helps us sleep, improves our mood, reduces depression, or makes us feel more alert on the job are, simply put, priceless.

LRC will establish OLED lighting program to assist manufacturers and OLED industry
LEDs Magazine - May 4, 2015
Through LRC's new program OLED-LEAP "companies will learn how to develop lighting systems that will best take advantage of the unique characteristics of OLEDs and deliver greater value to users," said Dr. Narendran.

The Value Proposition: The Lighting Professional's Extra Burden
LD+A - May 2015
LRC Educational Programs Director Daniel Frering discusses the development of certification programs within the lighting profession.

Innovative lighting illuminates the future of cars
Chicago Tribune - April 13, 2015
LRC's Transportation Lighting research is featured in this article by Stephen Rynkiewicz. "We can take for granted that LED headlights and signal lights are going to be bright enough and use a lot less power," says John D. Bullough, senior research scientist at the Lighting Research Center. "So now the focus is on performance..."

OLED researchers working to make flat, futuristic lighting a reality
CBS Interactive [CNET] - April 9, 2015
Excellent article by Ry Crist on our new program OLED-LEAP.
"Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) might be the next big thing in lighting. Like regular LEDs, they promise dramatic cuts in power consumption, and with a naturally diffused glow that's a lot easier on the eyes, the potential for creative new design applications is immense. A new program at Rensselaer's Lighting Research Center seeks to make OLED lighting more practical to manufacture and more affordable..."

8 ways to use your gadgets at night and still get a good night's sleep
Fast Company - February 26, 2015
Michael Grothaus interviews Mariana Figueiro for this article on iPads and sleep.

How Smartphones Hurt Sleep
The Atlantic - February 24, 2015
Blue light makes the brain think it's time to wake up, just as you're getting ready for bed.

Let there be light: Helping people through dark days
BBC News - February 14, 2015
The Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is developing a system that could transform people's homes and lives by regulating the amount of light to which they are exposed. At its heart is a device known as a Daysimeter, which was developed by a team led by Professors Mark Rea and Mariana Figueiro.

LEDs Make Inroads Into Streetlighting
Architectural Lighting (AL) - February 11, 2015
Along with their energy-sparing advantages over high-pressure sodium, LEDs' color temperature brightens outdoor spaces in ways that can increase safety and comfort around roads and streets. Yet solid state lighting's properties are best suited to certain settings, says John Bullough, senior research scientist at the LRC.

The Value Proposition: At the Crossroads of Intersections
LD+A - February 2015
LRC's John Bullough presents the need for a valid benefit metric to lead us toward new ways to light roadways.

Electric Lighting Will Improve Our Quality of Life in the Future
NEMA ei - February 2015
LRC Director Mark Rea discusses how a 24-hour lighting scheme could improve health and productivity.

Swedish school hopes bright classroom lights boost student performance
Lux Review - January 27, 2015
A school in the far north of Sweden may have found a way to boost students' performance in the dead of winter: Stimulate them with bright, intense classroom lighting. That makes sense to Dr. Mariana Figueiro of the Lighting Research Center, who points out that a brightly lit room can act like a dose of caffeine...

Swedish school sheds light on dark days of winter
The Guardian - January 24, 2015
David Crouch interviews Mariana Figueiro for The Guardian (UK) on light & health
and a school in Sweden’s far north that has recently installed special lighting to improve mood, raise performance, and help students through a long, dark winter.

How Pink Is Your Floyd? The Rise of the Smartbulb
The New York Times - January 21, 2015
Excellent article by Bob Tedeschi with expert quotes by Dr. Narendran.
With integrated stereo speakers, colors that pulse and other innovations, programmable LEDs are booming. But early adopters still pay a premium...

Screen time wrong prelude to bedtime, study says
The Boston Globe - December 22, 2014
Mariana Figueiro speaks with Carolyn Johnson about a new study which confirms her 2012 study results that show backlit tablets can suppress melatonin, delaying sleep.

Wearable sensors to help you get just the right amount of light
Radio Sweden - November 20, 2014
Dr. Thorbjörn Laike speaks with Radio Sweden about light & health research with LRC and the Daysimeter (in English).

Five ways to use light to improve health and sleep
BBC Mundo - November 6, 2014
Alejandra Martins interviews Mariana Figueiro for BBC Mundo (BBC Latin America).

Driven: In search of one of the most brilliant minds in lighting
Total Lighting (TL) magazine - November 2014
Mariana Figueiro is featured in this Q+A with TL magazine editor Gillian Anderson.

The Value Proposition: Changing Course on 'Benefits'
LD+A - November 2014
Professor Emeritus Peter Boyce presents an action plan to more clearly demonstrate the benefits of lighting.

Time to Switch Off?
BBC Focus - November 2014
You probably spend more time staring at a screen than you think. But is it bad for you? BBC's Holly Cave interviews light & health expert Mariana Figueiro.

Narendran Comments on Blue LED Nobel Prize
BBC World News - October 8, 2014
Dr. Narendran, director of research and head of the solid-state lighting program at the LRC, was interviewed by BBC World News regarding the Nobel Prize in physics given to the inventors of the blue LED.

LED There Be Light: 3 Share Nobel for Blue Diode
The Associated Press - October 7, 2014
Mark Rea and Nadarajah Narendran talk to AP Science Writer Malcolm Ritter about the Nobel Prize for the blue LED. The AP story was featured in newspapers and TV news around the world including ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, Businessweek, Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, The New Zealand Herald, and Hindustan Times, among many others.

LEDs: Understanding Optical Performance
Architectural Lighting (AL) - October 2014
Even the most efficient light sources would be rendered useless without high-quality optics. A compact fluorescent lamp, for example, can lose up to 70 percent of its light if paired with an inappropriate optic, says Nadarajah Narendran, director of research at the Lighting Research Center (LRC), in Troy, N.Y.

Lighting Affects Dementia Patients’ Sleep
Today’s Geriatric Medicine - September/October 2014
In-depth article on Mariana Figueiro's recent study, "Tailored lighting intervention improves measures of sleep, depression, and agitation in persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia living in long-term care facilities."

Mariana Figueiro to speak at TEDMED 2014
LRC Light & Health Program Director Mariana Figueiro will speak at TEDMED, September 12, 2014 at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.

Blue light from electronics disturbs sleep, especially for teenagers
The Washington Post - September 1, 2014
The pervasive glow of electronic devices may be an impediment to a good night’s sleep. That’s particularly noticeable now, when families are adjusting to early wake-up times for school...

Out of the shadows: the impacts of light on human health
Lighting Newswire - September 2014
Mariana Figueiro's Light & Health research is featured in this article by Claire Thompson. Part 1 of a two-part series exploring light's effect on human health.

Decoding Color Performance
Architectural Lighting (AL) - July/August 2014
The third article in a multi-part series examining the critical issues in solid-state lighting, with expert quotes from Dr. Mark Rea. The article ran in the July/August issue.

LRC examines LED roadway lighting for National Academies report
LEDs Magazine - June 12, 2014
Article by Maury Wright on the National Academies report co-authored by LRC scientists John Bullough and Leora Radetsky.

Digital Lighting Goes Organic
Science News - June 6, 2014
Incandescent lights are so last century. Meet OLED...
Expert quotes by Nadarajah Narendran and Yiting Zhu.

The Light Therapeutic
The Economist: Intelligent Life magazine - May/June 2014
Dr. Mariana Figueiro's Light & Health research is profiled in the May/June issue cover story by Rosie Blau, also available online.

A Deep Dive in Dimming
Architectural Lighting (AL) - May/June 2014
The second article in a multi-part series examining the critical issues in solid-state lighting, with expert quotes from Dr. Nadarajah Narendran. The article ran in the May/June issue of the magazine.

Night Shift Making You Sick? Red Light Could Help
NYC Public Radio - May 27, 2014
News producer Paige Cowett of NYC Public Radio (WNYC) visited the Lighting Research Center to find out how red light could benefit shift workers...

New Ideas in Lighting Get Closer to Market
The New York Times - May 4, 2014
“It’s going to be a really long putt to try to replace the incandescent,” said Mark Rea, director of the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. “People hate change of any kind. We make light sources today that are better than incandescent by any metric at delivering the benefits you’re expecting from lighting. But it’s different.”

The Value Proposition: Where Are the Products?
LD+A - May 2014
Column by Dr. Mariana Figueiro on new metrics to increase the value of lighting.
"The non-visual benefits of light on human health are real and multifaceted, but remain largely unrealized because there are few lighting products designed to deliver those benefits."

Materials Hold Secret to Better LED Performance, Efficiency, Value
Photonics Spectra magazine - May 2014
Dr. Nadarajah Narendran's LED research is featured in the May issue of Photonics Spectra magazine, also available online.

SIL program spans LED technology to the breadth of emerging SSL applications
LEDs Magazine - April/May 2014
Thanks very much to everyone for the overwhelming positive feedback about LRC Director Mark Rea's Strategies in Light talk. In case you missed the SIL talk, here is a summary by Maury Wright, published in the April/May issue of LEDs Magazine.

The Best LED Light Bulbs for Vivid, Rich Colors
The Wall Street Journal - April 18, 2014
WSJ Gear & Gadgets editor Michael Hsu's guide to finding the best LED light bulb. Expert quotes by LRC Director Mark Rea.

LEDs: Fighting Flicker
Architectural Lighting (AL) - March/April 2014
The first article in a multi-part series examining the critical issues in solid-state lighting, with expert quotes from LRC's Nadarajah Narendran and John Bullough. The article ran in the March/April issue of the magazine.

The Health Costs of our Late-Night Light Addiction
Nautilus - March 31, 2014
LRC Director Mark Rea and science writer Eli Chen discuss the benefits of regular light/dark patterns to promote human health.

Light tests at RPI to help the early birds sleep
Times Union - March 26, 2014
A flashing mask that looks like it belongs at a techno-rave party might hold the key
to a better night's sleep for elderly people.

Take Light, Not Drugs
Nautilus - March 20, 2014
How light therapy can treat disorders from depression to Alzheimer's disease.

LRC Takes Health Initiative
LD+A - March 2014
The Lighting Research Center is no stranger to the health and wellness movement.

In the Dark About Picking a Light Bulb?
NPR All Things Considered - February 18, 2014
We were so honored to have Robert Siegel spend the day with us here at our lab. The NPR team recorded two amazing stories: the first piece explores the quality and color of LEDs and the "lighting of the future" featuring N. Narendran and Mark Rea.

'Bluish' Light May Help Alzheimer's Patients Find Bearings
NPR All Things Considered - February 19, 2014
Robert Siegel speaks with Mariana Figueiro about utilizing light to improve human health and wellbeing.

Basking in a New Glow
The New York Times - February 12, 2014
The biggest changes in the home lighting market have come in the realm of the light-emitting diode, or LED. Bob Tedeschi and Russ Leslie talk about the bright side of these new bulbs.

The Value Proposition: A New Spin on 'Value Engineering'
LD+A - February 2014
Column by LRC Director Mark Rea on new metrics to increase the value of lighting.
Good intentions and discussions of lighting quality are important, but to engineer lighting value we have to be able to measure benefits as well as costs.

Dark Matters
Traffic Technology International - January 2014
A bright future for the above-the-road lighting market, with predictions of more intelligent solutions to deliver enhanced efficiencies and light when and where it's needed.

LRC's Mark Rea discusses monetizing the benefits of SSL
LEDs Magazine - December 2013
The LED lighting industry needs to focus more on the benefits of solid-state lighting (SSL) technology rather than purely on energy savings, according to Strategies in Light Plenary speaker Mark Rea, as he discusses in an interview with Maury Wright.

Light for Better Sleep
Residential Lighting - November 2013
Mariana Figueiro Q+A: Lighting Research Center study on lighting systems for Alzheimer's patients could help an aging population.

Lemurs’ neck bling tracks siestas, insomnia
Duke Research Blog - November 5, 2013
The fancy neck charm this lemur is wearing is no fashion accessory. Weighing in at just under an ounce, it’s a battery-powered data logger that measures light exposure and activity levels continuously over many days.

Shedding lab light on plant growth
Times Union - October 26, 2013
In some families, favorite recipes are handed down for years. Someday, if Tessa Pocock has her way, greenhouse workers will have time-tested recipes for light that grow better plants. Properly manipulated, wavelengths in light can make plants grow faster or slower, produce more healthful compounds and even have a longer shelf life after being picked.

Rensselaer's Lighting Research Center: Far, Far More Than Meets The Eye
Forbes - September 2013
There’s an old joke that goes: How many PhDs does it take to turn on a lightbulb?
The punchline: Four—one to do it and three to co-author the paper. That may not be fair, or true. But it is the case that it takes a number of highly intelligent people to undertake the necessary work at the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer.

Surprise: Mobile devices don't help office ergonomics
Computerworld - August 8, 2013
The decades-old prescriptions of office ergonomics sought to minimize musculo-skeletal damage to people who were sitting fixedly at their desks for hours at a time....

Ask Umbra: Do the costs of LEDs outweigh the benefits?
Grist Magazine - July 29, 2013
Dear Umbra, My little brother, a pretty staunch environmentalist, just graduated from college and spent the last year of his service-learning job working for the....

An illuminating website
The Daily Gazette - July 23, 2013
Like many other aspects of home design, options for lighting have proliferated over the past decade or so. Even buying a light bulb isn't as simple as it used to be.

Is Your Cell Phone Making You Fat?
Harper's BAZAAR - July 15, 2013
Late-night screen time may be leaving us sleepless and saddlebagged.

Arianna Huffington Implores You: Stop Taking Bright Devices Into the Bedroom
The Atlantic - June 27, 2013
Speaking as earnestly as an iPad is backlit, Arianna Huffington implored attendees at the Aspen Ideas Festival Wednesday to ban their tablets and smart phones from their bedrooms, for the sake of their health.

Field General
LD+A - June 2013
An interview with the LRC's DELTA (Demonstration and Evaluation of Lighting Technologies and Applications) program director Jennifer Brons.

Lighting website launched by RPI
Times Union - May 23, 2013
Have questions about how new lights might look in your home? Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has created a free web page to see how they might look before you buy. Created by RPI's Lighting Research Center, the site is meant to help homeowners, contractors and builders choose light bulbs, fixtures and controls to boost energy savings, calculate costs and get light where it is needed.

Putting Your Home Office in Its Best Light
NBC News - May 21, 2013
The right lighting can make a world of difference, especially if you spend long hours in front of a computer. But there's more to choosing the best lights for your home office than you might think. The Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has launched the first interactive website to help people choose the right light bulbs, fixtures and controls for every room in the house.

The Secret to An Afternoon Energy Boost: Red Lighting
The Wall Street Journal - May 13, 2013
Many people experience a period of reduced alertness in the afternoon, what researchers call the post-lunch dip. Exposing people to red lighting may improve their energy during this period, according to a study in Physiology & Behavior.

Book Review by Fred Oberkircher: Value Metrics for Better Lighting by Mark S. Rea
LD+A - May 2013
A review of the book authored by the Director of the LRC, Mark Rea..

Editorial by Paul Tarricone, Editor/Associate Publisher
LD+A - May 2013
Paul Tarricone lends his thoughts and opinions on the occasion of the Lighting Research Center's 25th Anniversary.

Patent Watch: Solid-state light source lightbulb
Scientific American - April 2013
"Heat is one of the problems with LEDs," Narendran says. "If you don’t create it in the right way, you may not have the long life.” His device inverts the typical design by putting the LED source and the metal heat sink at the front of the bulb, where there is more exposure to surrounding air and cooling is more efficient. The bulb has interior features that reflect and refract to produce light distribution that mimics an incandescent lamp.

Lighting: You Are Doing It Wrong
Men's Health - April 24, 2013
You may not need—or want—the brightest, zillion-lumen headlamp, flashlight, or bike light you can buy for your outdoor adventures. Here, we slice through the darkness.

A new dawn for lighting
Times Union - April 13, 2013
It was about a million years ago, many experts believe, in what is now South Africa, when humans learned to control light and drive out darkness by mastering fire.

Light Years Ahead
Residential Architect - April 8, 2013
LEDs have entered the residential market, giving architects an array of good—and bad—options. Researching the right LED product is time well spent.

Inside the Lighting Research Center at RPI
The Business Review - March 29, 2013
The Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY has attracted more than $100 million in funding since its founding 25 years ago.

Illuminating the Way, 25 Years Later
Architectural Lighting - March 25, 2013
The value of light is typically measured in dollars, color temperature, or efficacy. But how does one quantify the sense of security that light provides in a parking garage, or the increased productivity of workers in a bright factory?

RPI Lab Lights the Way
Times Union - March 20, 2013
On its 25th anniversary, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Lighting Research Center celebrated the opening of an important lab that measures light.

Tips from Capital Region Illumination Illuminati
Times Union - Feb 22, 2013
What's the right light for your living or family room? Versatility is vital if you want a multipurpose setting for throwing an intimate dinner party, knitting or playing Wii. Here are some illuminating tips from local lighting experts.

Reading Your Tablet Computer At Night Could Be Disrupting Your Sleep
Gizmodo - Feb 5, 2013
As we move from paper books to e-books, the practice of reading before bed may have to change. A new study suggests that looking at the bright light of a tablet screen may be interfering with the natural production of hormones that aid in falling asleep.

A 24-Hour Lighting Scheme for Older Adults
LD+A - February 2013
Since light impacts more than just our vision, it is important that lighting schemes implemented in senior residences also account for the needs of our non-visual systems.

Using iPad for Two Hours Before Bedtime Harms Your SLEEP, New Study Reveals
Daily Mail UK - Feb 2, 2013
People who favor watching movies or surfing the web on their tablet or laptop before bedtime could be setting themselves up for serious sleep problems, according to a new research.

Bright Screens Could Delay Bedtime
Scientific American - Feb 1, 2013
Using a tablet or computer in the late evening disrupts the body's melatonin production.

Interview: What Does the Future Hold for Energy and Lighting?
Phys.Org - Dec 28, 2012
As 2012 comes to a close, scientists and engineers are looking forward to molding the future, starting with the work they do in their own labs. Phys.org has interviewed a few of today's leading researchers in the areas of energy and lighting, and asked them what they're most excited about in their fields in the years to come.

RPI Lighting Research Center to Host 25th Anniversary Celebration
Laser Focus World - Dec 18, 2012
The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will celebrate 25 years of lighting research and eduction on March 20, 2013.

RPI Sheds Its Light on Roundabouts
Times Union - Dec 10, 2012
Lighting Research Center comes up with new ways to light traffic circles and also cut energy costs

Coping With Stress: 10 Ways To Make Your Online Time More Relaxing
Huffington Post - Dec 10, 2012
Full disclosure: We love the interwebs here at HuffPost Teen. Between the amazingly creative work you are sharing on Tumblr, the social media empires you've built, and the way you've made your voices heard on platforms like ours (and beyond), we're inspired every day by your rich online lives.

Bringing Illumination to Flight
Times Union - Dec 6, 2012
When passengers on the newest Boeing commercial airliner find cabin lighting that can mimic an infinite blue sky, or simulate sunrise and sunset, the technology to make that happen was born at the Rensselaer Lighting Research Center in downtown Troy.

New Metric Helps Builders and Architects Maximize Daylighting
Custom Home - Oct 24, 2012
The formula can be used to adjust glazing placement and solar orientation early in the design process.

Mariana Figueiro
Architectural Lighting - Oct 24, 2012
Had it not been for a design research seminar while a graduate student at the Lighting Research Center (LRC), part of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., Mariana Figueiro might never have pursued a career in lighting education and research.

Early-Morning Screen Time Could Help Kids Wake Up
NBC News - Oct 23, 2012
Even with the shift to standard time this Sunday, the days will continue shortening, making it even tougher to get up. Less light signals the body it's still night. But early morning exposure to an iPad, computer or other backlit device could help ease the seasonal transition, according to a study from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Blue light exposure boosts stress hormone response in sleep-deprived teens
BioOptics World - Oct 22, 2012
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; Atlanta, GA), almost 70 percent of adolescents get less than 8 hours of sleep on school nights, which has been linked with depression, behavior problems, poor performance at school, drug use, and automobile accidents.

Screen Time Before Bed May Be Keeping You Awake
Mashable - Oct 10, 2012
We've told you about recent studies that show tablet and smartphone use before bed can keep you awake at night. Researchers at the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute found two or more hours of exposure to backlit devices suppresses melatonin by as much as 22%.

Teens Who Use Mobiles After 'Lights Out' May Struggle With Sleep, Depression
NY Daily News - Oct 1, 2012
Additionally, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Lighting Research Center found that looking at the backlit screen of certain electronic devices can suppress melatonin, a hormone produced during sleep, and cause sleeplessness.

Lighting Up the Aviation Industry
Rensselaer Alumni Magazine - Fall 2012
When the Boeing company and the FAA needed to develop innovative, efficient lighting solutions, they turned to Rensselaer's Lighting Research Center.

A Screen Display's Mixed Signals
Times Union - Sept 13, 2012
Keeping company with an iPad far into the evening may keep you amused, but it may also rob you of some sleep later in the night.

Really? Using a Computer Before Bed Can Disrupt Sleep?
The New York Times - Sept 10, 2012
In today's gadget-obsessed world, sleep experts often say that for a better night's rest, Americans should click the "off" buttons on their smartphones and tablets before tucking in for the night.

Using iPads Before Bed 'Can Lead to a Poor Night's Sleep'
The Telegraph - Sept 10, 2012
Using tablet computers like Apple's iPad and Samsung's Galaxy Note just before bed can lead to a poor night's sleep, according to research.

Tablet Light May Affect Sleep By Suppressing Melatonin
Huffington Post - Sept 5, 2012
Your new tablet may be convenient for reading on the go, but it may not be so good for your sleep.

Your iPad May Be Keeping You Awake At Night
NY Daily News - Sept 5, 2012
"Our study shows that a two-hour exposure to light from self-luminous electronic displays can suppress melatonin by about 22 percent," said lead researcher Mariana Figueiro in a statement last week.

Can't Sleep? It Could Be Your iPad
WebMD - Aug 31, 2012
Is setting down your iPad the last thing you do before bed? New research shows that all of those nighttime hours spent with your tablet can wreak havoc on your sleep.

Trouble Sleeping? Your Tablet or Smartphone Could Be to Blame
Mashable - Aug 29, 2012
Are you having more trouble sleeping since you got your iPad or Samsung Galaxy S II? That comes as no surprise to researchers at the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, who've found that two or more hours of exposure to backlit devices suppresses melatonin.

Want a Good Night's Sleep? Read a Book.
Los Angeles Times - Aug 28, 2012
There are many ways to slide into a good night's sleep -- here, we're concerned with just one of them: reading. And if you take to bed with a good book on your tablet, you're doing it wrong.