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Did you know that most humans would operate on a 25-hour cycle without exposure to sunlight? Instead, we operate on a 24-hour cycle, following the 24-hour cycle of the sun.  Humans are “diurnal” animals, sleeping during the night and being active during the day, as opposed to “nocturnal” animals which are active at night.  When [...]

Have you ever wondered how animals stay cool when the weather heats up?  Check out these creative ways to beat the heat: Pelicans, cormorants and other birds create “internal fans” by rapidly fluttering their throat pouches. Pigs wallow in mud to cool off – evaporative cooling occurs as the mud dries; mud also protects pigs’ [...]

As the temperature goes up, so does the potential for getting sunburnt.  Did you know that one in five people will get skin cancer, often from the sun’s rays?  The good news is that skin cancer is preventable. Viewer Tip: The Friday before Memorial Day (May 22) is Don’t Fry Day. The National Council on [...]

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun causes sunburn and other health effects, including skin cancer and cataracts. Everyone should protect themselves from the sun, and some groups can be particularly susceptible to health effects from sun exposure: Kids: About 25 percent of a person’s lifetime exposure to UV radiation occurs before the age of 18, meaning [...]

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes sunburn and other health effects, including skin cancer and cataracts.  There are a number of factors that affect how much UV light reaches the earth’s surface. Stratospheric Ozone: The stratospheric ozone layer (between six and 30 miles above the earth’s surface) absorbs much of the UV radiation from the sun.  However, the ozone [...]

This is the time of year when Americans begin spending more time outside, increasing their exposure to the sun. The stratospheric ozone layer (a protective layer of “good” ozone about six to 30 miles above the earth’s surface) absorbs many of the sun’s harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays.  However, depending on the time of year, weather, and exposure to ozone-depleting [...]

We all know that the sun’s UV rays can be harmful to humans – but did you know that the sun can also damage plants?  Damaging UV-B rays can affect crop growth, make some plants more susceptible to disease, and even change plant coloring. Viewer Tip: Although scientists are still learning about how to protect [...]

Although a heavy cloud cover can block some of the sun’s UV rays, which can damage skin and cause sunburn, thin or broken clouds still allow most UV rays through!  Puffy “fair-weather” clouds can actually increase UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface by deflecting the rays. Viewer Tip: Take precautions to protect yourself from the [...]

Did you know that many factors affect the intensity of the sun’s damaging UV rays that reach the earth’s surfaceCloud cover can affect the amount of UV radiation reaching the earth, and land cover, such as buildings and trees, can actually reduce exposure to UV radiation.  Even time of day is important – UV peaks [...]

It’s clear that the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are damaging to humans, but did you know that sun exposure can also be damaging to plants and wildlife?  Scientists have found that some plants – including native forest, grassland, and marine species – have smaller leaves or grow less when they are exposed to UV, and [...]

Even though depletion of “good” ozone in the stratosphere is being reduced, loss of this protective layer over the earth can still allow increased amounts of UV rays from the sun to reach the Earth.  Not only are UV rays attributed to cases of skin cancer and cataracts, but they can also damage sensitive plant [...]

Although heavy cloud cover can block some of the sun’s UV rays, which can damage skin and cause sunburn, thin or broken clouds still allow most UV rays through!  Puffy “fair-weather” clouds can actually increase UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface by deflecting the rays.  UV rays can also be damaging to plants and animals. [...]