Can artificial light mimic sunlight?

Artificial light can mimic the effects of sunlight to some extent, but it is not completely equivalent. According to Andrew Huberman, bright artificial lights can be used effectively in the morning to help wake you up, especially in conditions where natural sunlight is not available. However, he points out that artificial lights do not have the same color features and alternation between yellow and blue that morning sunlight possesses, which are optimal for stimulating the body 1.

Additionally, very bright artificial light, like those from 10,000 lux light panels, can be beneficial, though they are still not on par with natural sunlight. These artificial lights can be particularly useful during cloudy or overcast days, or in geographic locations where sunlight exposure is limited 2.

In summary, while artificial lights can be used to replicate some of the beneficial effects of sunlight, especially for regulating sleep and wake cycles, they do not completely replace the full spectrum and intensity of natural sunlight.