Sunday, November 2, 2025

Daylight Saving Time Is Over… But Are We Really Any Better Off?

 Daylight Saving Time Is Over… But Are We Really Any Better Off?

Ah, that moment has arrived again—Daylight Saving Time has ended in Canada. Clocks “fall back” on Sunday, November 2, 2025, we gain an hour of sleep, and for a brief moment, the world seems to realign with nature. But let’s be honest: the problem isn’t just a matter of clocks.

Canada—and the World—Moves on Without DST

In most of Canada, DST officially ended on Sunday, November 2, 2025, along with most of the United States and Europe. That means evenings get darker earlier, mornings a little brighter… for now.

But not every country cares:

  • Japan, India, China, South Korea, and much of Africa ignore DST completely.
  • In the Southern Hemisphere, countries like Australia and Chile are just starting DST, flipping their clocks the opposite way.

DST is often blamed for health problems, accidents, and confusion, and the evidence is clear: the supposed “benefits”—saving energy or helping farmers—were always exaggerated.


The Real Culprit: The Electric Light Bulb

Here’s the twist: DST is just a band-aid on a much bigger problem. We aren’t living by the sun anymore. Since Thomas Edison’s incandescent bulb in 1879, humans have lit the night as if it were day.

  • We stay awake hours past sunset.
  • Sleep cycles are disrupted.
  • Work, screens, and entertainment run 24/7.

The light bulb didn’t just illuminate rooms—it illuminated human anxiety, overstimulation, and disconnection from natural rhythms. DST can’t fix that; it just shuffles our artificial hours around.


Don’t Be Complacent: The Solar Storm Threat

Here’s a chilling thought: all our reliance on electricity makes us vulnerable to the sun itself. A massive solar storm, like the historic Carrington Event of 1859, could wipe out grids, satellites, and lights in a heartbeat.

  • Imagine the world suddenly plunged into natural darkness.
  • The comforts of artificial light would vanish.
  • How would our society, so dependent on electricity and digital infrastructure, cope?

DST ending should remind us we’re not masters of light or time. We’ve tinkered with clocks, illuminated the night, and built a fragile web of electricity. Nature, however, has the ultimate say.


Reflection

  • We need to respect natural rhythms more, even if we can cheat them with bulbs and schedules.
  • We must prepare for the unexpected, from solar storms to infrastructure failures.
  • And perhaps most importantly, we should remember that progress isn’t always benign—sometimes it blinds us, literally and figuratively.

Next time your clock falls back, take a moment: notice the darkening sky, think about Edison’s gift, and consider what we might lose if the sun ever decides to reclaim the night.


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