Study: Artificial lighting may be making us sick

Researchers in the Netherlands say they've found compelling evidence that too much light exposure could cause premature bone loss, muscle weakness, and erratic immune system behavior.

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In the study, more than 130 mice were placed in a constantly lit environment for 6 months.

At durations' end, the subjects showed notably diminished muscle function and exhibited signs of osteoporosis, notes New Scientist.

Further, their immune systems were reacting as if pathogens were present.

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Johanna Meijer of Leiden University Medical Center said, "Our study shows that the environmental light-dark cycle is important for health. We showed that the absence of environmental rhythms leads to severe disruption of a wide variety of health parameters."

While people who work nights are high on the list of those likely to be impacted, roughly 75% of the entire human race is exposed to some light during night, according to The Independent.

On an up note, the mice did make full recoveries once normal cycles of light and dark resumed.