Artificial Lights Tell the Story of the Pandemic
Satellite views of Earth at night reveal the distinct imprint of humankind’s response to a fast-spreading virus.
by Marina Koren
Jul 08, 2020
4 minutes
Even during the worst of the pandemic in New York City, when the threat of the virus had emptied out the streets, the lights of Times Square stayed on, its many towering advertisements flashing and flickering. The coronavirus had driven millions of people indoors, but the city’s most recognizable plaza was illuminated—a symbol, George Lence, a spokesperson for Times Square’s sign operators, told me, of “New York’s strength and resiliency,” a marker that everything might still be fine. If Times Square—or any other famous monument in a major city—were to go dark, it would send a worrying message.
Outdoor lighting signals security, a bright deterrent against misdeeds that would
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