Multimedia Gallery

Spanish Version:

Luz Azul

Hola, soy Patricia Guadalupe con Los Discovery Files, de la Fundación Nacional de Ciencias, NSF.

¡Es hora de levantarse!

¿Por qué te sientes cansado, como si no hubieses dormido lo suficiente? Podría ser la iluminación en tu casa.

Muchos de nosotros utilizamos bombillas LED porque consumen menos energía y duran más tiempo.

Pero, ¿sabías que estas bombillas emiten una gran cantidad de luz azul que, luego de una exposición prolongada, se la vincula con cataratas, insomnio y cansancio?

Investigadores financiados por la NSF en la Universidad de Houston están trabajando para reducir la cantidad de luz azul generada por las bombillas LED para mejorar nuestro sueño y proteger nuestros ojos.

Los investigadores han sintetizado un compuesto que han utilizado en un prototipo de bombilla LED de luz violeta, el cual genera menos luz azul; ¡eso es genial para nuestro sueño!

El prototipo también demostró ser capaz de mostrar los colores de los objetos casi tan bien como la luz solar natural.

Se necesita avanzar más en la investigación antes que el prototipo de bombilla LED esté listo para comercializarse.

Pero, ¿te imaginas...

...un “buen dormir ..." con la luz adecuada?

Descubra cómo la Fundación Nacional de Ciencias está avanzando la investigación científica en NSF.gov.

English Version:

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 lightbulbs 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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