UV Radiation: Not just a Threat to Sunbathers

In 10 seconds? 250 million-year-old land plant fossils show UV radiation is linked to the Permian-Triassic mass extinction event. Human activity linked to ozone depletion also increased UV radiation and, in turn, global temperatures.

What even is UV radiation? Ultraviolet (UV) is electromagnetic radiation that you can’t see. Although most UV has a natural source, the Sun, it is also emitted by tanning beds, black lights, and LED lamps – like those used for gel manicures! It comes in 3 types: UVA is the most common and is what causes tanning; UVB is the most destructive, and exposure to high levels often results in sunburn and skin cancers, often pairing up with UVA to do so; UVC is rarely observed in nature on Earth as most of it is absorbed by an atmospheric layer known as the ozone.