Why you should embrace Denmark's dark winter daylight shift

Denmark switches back to winter time this weekend.

The clocks go back one hour on Sunday night.

Mornings will get more light.

Evenings will turn dark much earlier.

For many international residents, dark months are hard to handle.

A Danish researcher says we should appreciate the darkness.

Mette Hvass studies darkness at Aalborg University.

She notes that too much outdoor light can harm humans and animals.

Using less artificial light can actually make people feel safer.

Hvass points to a test at an Aarhus light rail station.

Lighting was cut by about 80 percent there.

Passengers reported feeling safer at night.

The lower brightness made seeing surrounding areas easier.

Hvass does not want to turn off all lights.

She encourages people to use light thoughtfully.

Darkness allows us to see stars and the moon.

Our eyes adapt to darkness better than we expect.

Spending time outside after sunset helps make darkness feel familiar.