Bihar Glows On NASA's New Night Map; Viral Pic Leaves Internet Amazed

A newly released global night-time map by NASA has unexpectedly put Bihar in the spotlight, sparking widespread discussion on social media. The visual, which tracks changes in artificial lighting across the world, shows parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh emerging as some of the most brightly lit regions on the planet.Published on April 16, the map is based on an extensive analysis of nearly 1.6 million satellite images captured over nine years, from 2014 to 2022. The data highlights how patterns of night-time illumination have evolved globally during this period.One of the most notable findings is the sharp rise in artificial lighting across northern India, particularly in the Uttar Pradesh–Bihar belt. Bihar, in particular, stands out prominently

in the dataset, catching many online users off guard.The study was conducted by researchers Tian Li and Zhe Zhu from the University of Connecticut, who used an advanced algorithm to process data gathered through the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS).In the map, regions marked in gold indicate areas where night-time brightness has increased, while purple tones reflect regions where lighting has either declined or remained relatively low. Countries like India, China, parts of the Middle East, and Central America largely appear in gold, whereas much of Europe is shown in purple, suggesting a reduction in brightness over time.Despite the broader global trends, Bihar’s prominence on the map has driven most of the online conversation.

Social media users reacted with a mix of surprise and humour. One wrote, “Bihar is shining like a diamond.” Another commented, “Bihar’s per capita power consumption needs to be studied, shining like a star.”Others expressed disbelief, with one user asking, “Wait… Bihar is one of the brightest spots in the world?” Another added, “Bihar, the land of enlightenment, is the brightest.”Some comparisons also surfaced, with a user questioning, “How is Bihar brighter than even Delhi?” while another joked, “My house is glowing.”