Changes

However; light cannot simply be absorbed without limit. [[Energy]], like visible light, cannot be created or destroyed. It can only be converted from one type of energy to another. Most objects that absorb visible light reemit it as infrared light.[2] So, although an object may appear dark, it is likely bright at a frequency that a [[human being]] cannot see. For more information see [[thermodynamics]].

However; light cannot simply be absorbed without limit. [[Energy]], like visible light, cannot be created or destroyed. It can only be converted from one type of energy to another. Most objects that absorb visible light reemit it as infrared light.[2] So, although an object may appear dark, it is likely bright at a frequency that a [[human being]] cannot see. For more information see [[thermodynamics]].

A dark area has limited light sources, making [[things]] hard to see. Exposure to alternating light and darkness (night and day) has caused several [[evolution]]ary adaptations to darkness. When a vertebrate, like a [[human]], enters a dark area, its [[iris]] dilates, allowing more light to enter the eye and improving [[night vision]]. Also, the light detecting cells in the human eye ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rods_and_cones rods and cones]) will regenerate more unbleached rhodopsin when adapting to darkness.

A dark area has limited light sources, making [[things]] hard to see. Exposure to alternating light and darkness (night and day) has caused several [[evolution]]ary adaptations to darkness. When a vertebrate, like a [[human]], enters a dark area, its [[iris]] dilates, allowing more light to enter the eye and improving [[night vision]]. Also, the light detecting cells in the human eye ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rods_and_cones rods and cones]) will regenerate more unbleached rhodopsin when adapting to darkness.

The scientific definition of light includes the entire electromagnetic [[spectrum]], not just visible light, so it is scientifically impossible to create perfect darkness. For example, all objects radiate heat in the form of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared_light infrared light] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_rays gamma rays], extremely high frequency light, can penetrate even dense materials.

The scientific definition of light includes the entire electromagnetic [[spectrum]], not just visible light, so it is scientifically impossible to create perfect darkness. For example, all objects radiate heat in the form of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared_light infrared light] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_rays gamma rays], extremely high frequency light, can penetrate even dense materials.

==Poetic==

==Poetic==

As a poetic term, darkness can also mean the [[presence]] of [[shadow]]s, [[evil]], or [[depression]].

As a poetic term, darkness can also mean the [[presence]] of [[shadow]]s, [[evil]], or [[depression]].

Darkness can have a strong [[psychological]] impact. It can cause depression in people with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder seasonal affective disorder], fear in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyctophobia nyctophobics], comfort in [http://www.allwords.com/word-lygophilia.html lygophilics], or attraction as in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_fashion gothic fashion]. These emotions are used to add power to literary imagery.

Darkness can have a strong [[psychological]] impact. It can cause depression in people with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder seasonal affective disorder], fear in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyctophobia nyctophobics], comfort in [https://www.allwords.com/word-lygophilia.html lygophilics], or attraction as in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_fashion gothic fashion]. These emotions are used to add power to literary imagery.

[[Religious]] [[texts]] often use darkness to make a visual point. In the [[Bible]], darkness was the second to last plague (Exodus 10:21) and the location of “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:12)[3] The [[Qur’an]] has been interpreted to say that those who transgress the bounds of what is right are doomed to “burning despair and ice-cold darkness.” (Nab 78.25)[4] In Greek Mythology, three layers of night surround Tartarus,[5] a place for the worst sinners as far beneath Hades as heaven is high above earth.[6]

[[Religious]] [[texts]] often use darkness to make a visual point. In the [[Bible]], darkness was the second to last plague (Exodus 10:21) and the location of “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:12)[3] The [[Qur’an]] has been interpreted to say that those who transgress the bounds of what is right are doomed to “burning despair and ice-cold darkness.” (Nab 78.25)[4] In Greek Mythology, three layers of night surround Tartarus,[5] a place for the worst sinners as far beneath Hades as heaven is high above earth.[6]

==Artistic==

==Artistic==

Artistically, darkness can also be used to emphasize or [[contrast]] with [[light]]. See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaroscuro chiaroscuro] for a [[discussion]] of the uses of such contrasts in visual media.

Artistically, darkness can also be used to emphasize or [[contrast]] with [[light]]. See [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaroscuro chiaroscuro] for a [[discussion]] of the uses of such contrasts in visual media.

[[Color]] paints are mixed together to create darkness, because each color absorbs certain frequencies of light. Theoretically, mixing together the three primary colors, or the three secondary colors, will absorb all visible light and create black. In practice it is difficult to prevent the mixture from taking on a brown tint.

[[Color]] paints are mixed together to create darkness, because each color absorbs certain frequencies of light. Theoretically, mixing together the three primary colors, or the three secondary colors, will absorb all visible light and create black. In practice it is difficult to prevent the mixture from taking on a brown tint.

# Dr. Denise Smith (powerpoint). Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum: The Herschel Experiment. Space Telescope Science Institute. Retrieved 2007-01-21.

# Dr. Denise Smith (powerpoint). Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum: The Herschel Experiment. Space Telescope Science Institute. Retrieved 2007-01-21.

# BibleGateway.com

# BibleGateway.com

# Online translation of The Quran - http://www.islamicity.com/quransearch/

# Online translation of The Quran - https://www.islamicity.com/quransearch/

# Hesiod (700 BCE). Theogony. 713-735.

# Hesiod (700 BCE). Theogony. 713-735.

# Homer (700 BCE). Iliad. Book VII.

# Homer (700 BCE). Iliad. Book VII.