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Blue light!

Hi! I'm Mo Barrow with The Discovery Files, from NSF -- the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Time to get up! Why do you feel fatigued -- as though you didn't get enough sleep? It might be the lighting in your house. Many of us use LED bulbs because they consume less energy and last longer.

But did you know they emit a lot of blue-tinted light that -- after continued exposure -- has been linked to cataracts, insomnia, and fatigue?

NSF-funded researchers at the University of Houston are working to reduce the amount of blue light generated by LED bulbs -- improving our sleep and protecting our eyes as well.

The researchers have synthesized a compound they've used in a prototype violet-light LED bulb, which generates less blue light -- that's great for sleeping!

It also proved capable of showing the color of objects almost as well as natural sunlight.

More work needs to be done before the prototype LED bulb will be ready for commercial use. But can you imagine...

...a "sleep good night..." in the right light?

Discover how the U.S. National Science Foundation is advancing research at nsf.gov.

"The discovery files" covers projects funded by the government's National Science Foundation. Federally sponsored research -- brought to you, by you! Learn more at nsf.gov or on our podcast.

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