- #1
marcusmiller
- 1
- 0
Hey Folks
Quick disclaimer:
I have no background in physics whatsoever but I have found myself trying to solve a problem that is seemingly based in physics so I am trying to learn.
I also have a background in search and search engine optimisation which usually means I am a dab hand at locating information online, but in this case, I seem to be going around in circles which I believe is in part due to me not really knowing how to ask the question.
Background:
After my wife was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis I have spent the last four or so years optimising our diet and lifestyle and whilst we pretty much have stress, diet and exercise dialled in I have now come to improving our sleep. I read a book called Lights Out that goes into detail regarding how our artificial lighting impacts our sleep. To cut a long story short, this all comes down to a hormone called melatonin that is suppressed by daylight and by artificial light so sitting at home, with the lights on, way after dark is bad.
It would seem that melatonin is suppressed by certain colours of light - primarily blue light and that light over 530 nm on the spectrum of light is okay (as it is similar to more natural sources like firelight).
This is a quote from wikipedia:
The Question:
It would seem there are a few bulbs on the market that possibly meet my requirement yet to be sure I need to measure the colour of the light in a room when using these bulbs. I would like it bright enough to read if possible but also dark enough and with no blue light so we get the benefits of cutting out artificial light.
I have been trying to understand how to measure the nm value of a given light source but have found myself getting increasingly confused. I have looked at Photometry, Colorimetry, Spectroradiometry and a whole other bunch of *metry's and I am still unsure what I should be looking at.
I have also seen a technique known as diffraction grating that again, is a little out of my ballpark and I unsure if this is correct for measuring direct colour from a bulb or the colour of light in a room.
So, I would really love some help figuring out how to measure the light of a given light source.
- is there a tool I can use for this?
- are there companies or universities that could perform this for me?
- is there anything else I should read / learn / research?
I hope this question is well structured enough that some of you good folks around here can help .
All the best!
Marcus
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin
Quick disclaimer:
I have no background in physics whatsoever but I have found myself trying to solve a problem that is seemingly based in physics so I am trying to learn.
I also have a background in search and search engine optimisation which usually means I am a dab hand at locating information online, but in this case, I seem to be going around in circles which I believe is in part due to me not really knowing how to ask the question.
Background:
After my wife was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis I have spent the last four or so years optimising our diet and lifestyle and whilst we pretty much have stress, diet and exercise dialled in I have now come to improving our sleep. I read a book called Lights Out that goes into detail regarding how our artificial lighting impacts our sleep. To cut a long story short, this all comes down to a hormone called melatonin that is suppressed by daylight and by artificial light so sitting at home, with the lights on, way after dark is bad.
It would seem that melatonin is suppressed by certain colours of light - primarily blue light and that light over 530 nm on the spectrum of light is okay (as it is similar to more natural sources like firelight).
This is a quote from wikipedia:
Production of melatonin by the pineal gland is inhibited by light to the retina and permitted by darkness. Its onset each evening is called the dim-light melatonin onset (DLMO).
It is principally blue light, around 460 to 480 nm, that suppresses melatonin,[33] proportional to the light intensity and length of exposure. Until recent history, humans in temperate climates were exposed to few hours of (blue) daylight in the winter; their fires gave predominantly yellow light. The incandescent light bulb widely used in the twentieth century produced relatively little blue light.[34] Wearing glasses that block blue light in the hours before bedtime may decrease melatonin loss. Kayumov et al. showed that light containing only wavelengths greater than 530 nm does not suppress melatonin in bright-light conditions.[35]
The Question:
It would seem there are a few bulbs on the market that possibly meet my requirement yet to be sure I need to measure the colour of the light in a room when using these bulbs. I would like it bright enough to read if possible but also dark enough and with no blue light so we get the benefits of cutting out artificial light.
I have been trying to understand how to measure the nm value of a given light source but have found myself getting increasingly confused. I have looked at Photometry, Colorimetry, Spectroradiometry and a whole other bunch of *metry's and I am still unsure what I should be looking at.
I have also seen a technique known as diffraction grating that again, is a little out of my ballpark and I unsure if this is correct for measuring direct colour from a bulb or the colour of light in a room.
So, I would really love some help figuring out how to measure the light of a given light source.
- is there a tool I can use for this?
- are there companies or universities that could perform this for me?
- is there anything else I should read / learn / research?
I hope this question is well structured enough that some of you good folks around here can help .
All the best!
Marcus
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin