[AZ-Observing] Diurnal/Nocturnal biovariability

["Laurel" <laureldunlap@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Greetings-
Forgive the intrusion, but I just joined the AZ-observing group ~1week ago,
I've been a member of TAAA for ~12 yrs or so.

Having read your posts to AZ-Obs I find myself wanting to convey to you that
diurnal/nocturnal cycle variables coupled with light/dark and/or sleep
cycles have long been studied with relationship to the health and well being
of humans, animals, and plants.

It is widely known [but rarely applied] in the human bio-health arena that
lack of sleep causes disturbances in the manufacture of
repairing/regenerating proteins, enzymes, neurotransmitters, and hormones.
Sleep acquired during daylight or in artificial light environments can be
nearly as detrimental as having no sleep at all.  This has been known for
some time.  Additionally, these rest and repair generation proteins are in
fact necessary to maintain optimum health.  Without them, the risk of
degenerative disease and altered growth/CA increases dramatically.  This is
why night shift workers eventually have a higher incidence of health
problems.

However, Cancer is the end of the line in this argument.  "Quality of life"
is affected first;   degenerative disease, malabsorption, hormonal
imbalances, all lead to the cascade of decline we know as, premature aging.
Without sleep/rest/regeneration we begin to fail.  NASA researchers have
been studying Light Dark cycle time exposusre on many systems, both plant
and animal.  Astronauts are tremendously affected by the rapid cycling of
Light/Dark/Light in the orbiting environment.  My understanding is that NASA
has constructed all waking activities around a Mandatory Dark Sleep Time.
No double shifts allowed in space... folks.  [hmmm... maybe I should work
there]

Artificial lighting, expense, waste, poor health,  have often been made too
politicized in the minds of the the masses.  [Translation:  if perceived as
political, many people shut down, or don't listen]  When each and every
individual begins to see how their own "Quality of Life" and the quality of
life of their loved ones is affected by seemingly small deficits over the
span of months or years then maybe...  just maybe, the issue will become
more personal to more people.  Only then, will the necessary "political"
process of change have a chance to succede.

The usual case is that,  until we get some sort of DX  (diagnosis) or "bad
news"  we just don't think it will happen to us.

In the case of your Cereus,   foot candle exposure is one issue at 6ft  I'm
suspecting you used an incandescent 100W light source   in that case you
have the issue of heat as well.    It is also well known in the plant
kingdom, that many species have VERY specific light needs.  not at all
surprising since photosynthesis runs the "life blood" of the plant's health.
Altering this balance often means the difference between  survival and
flowering.  Another example of this is the Poinsettia; without "short
daylight" periods coupled with >12.5 hours of complete darkness the
characteristic Colored leaves/flowering  just won't happen.

For me, the real answer is educating people to take personal reaponsibility
for the quality of their own lives.  Starting at home,  and sharing the
"Quality of Life" mantra with others everywhere. Excessive use of
unnecessary artificial light certainly wastes resources, and affects the
health of all living things to one degree or another.

IDA is a good choice to suppoort this cause.   ...but when it becomes
personal to everyone, when the general masses begin to believe that this
really does affect the length and quality of their own lives,  then it is
possible that a paradigm shift in thinking  just might happen.  That day
will be a very good day indeed.

Laurel Sparks-Dunlap  BSN RN (soon to be CCRN)    ...and master gardener
circa. 1990




--
See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please 
send personal replies to the author, not the list.

Other related posts:

[AZ-Observing] Diurnal/Nocturnal biovariability