Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In this episode of Science Quickly, host Rachel Feltman talks with author Rowan Jacobsen about new research on sun exposure and health. While too much sun increases skin cancer risk, moderate sunlight may offer surprising benefits—raising questions about whether avoiding the sun entirely is the right approach.
0:00 Intro
1:01 Personal History with Sun & SPF
2:24 Guest Intro: Rowan Jacobsen
2:42 The Sun Exposure Debate Today
4:05 How "Avoid the Sun" Became Official Advice
5:48 Evidence That Sun Avoidance May Be Harmful
10:59 The Real Risks: Skin Cancer & Sunburns
14:44 Should Recommendations Vary by Skin Tone?
15:28 How Sun Has Changed Rowan's Life
Recommended Reading:
In Defense of Sunlight. Rowan Jacobsen. Scribner, 2026
simonandschuster.com/books/In-Defense-of-Sunlight/Rowan-Jacobsen/9781668092163
Can sunlight cure disease?
scientificamerican.com/article/surprising-ways-that-sunlight-might-heal-autoimmune-diseases
Join our Summer Reading Challenge
sciam.com/readingchallenge
E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!
Discover something new every day. Subscribe to Scientific American: scientificamerican.com/getsciam
And sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter: scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences
Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Sushmita Pathak and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura, with fact-checking by Marielle Issa and Aaron Shattuck. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.
In this episode of Science Quickly, host Rachel Feltman talks with author Rowan Jacobsen about new research on sun exposure and health. While too much sun increases skin cancer risk, moderate sunlight may offer surprising benefits—raising questions about whether avoiding the sun entirely is the right approach.
0:00 Intro
1:01 Personal History with Sun & SPF
2:24 Guest Intro: Rowan Jacobsen
2:42 The Sun Exposure Debate Today
4:05 How "Avoid the Sun" Became Official Advice
5:48 Evidence That Sun Avoidance May Be Harmful
10:59 The Real Risks: Skin Cancer & Sunburns
14:44 Should Recommendations Vary by Skin Tone?
15:28 How Sun Has Changed Rowan's Life
Recommended Reading:
In Defense of Sunlight. Rowan Jacobsen. Scribner, 2026
simonandschuster.com/books/In-Defense-of-Sunlight/Rowan-Jacobsen/9781668092163
Can sunlight cure disease?
scientificamerican.com/article/surprising-ways-that-sunlight-might-heal-autoimmune-diseases
Join our Summer Reading Challenge
sciam.com/readingchallenge
E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!
Discover something new every day. Subscribe to Scientific American: scientificamerican.com/getsciam
And sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter: scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences
Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Sushmita Pathak and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura, with fact-checking by Marielle Issa and Aaron Shattuck. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.
