eli5: Why are the sun rays harmful but not rays for artificial lights?
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Light from the sun is a wide spectrum of waves. Some of them are ionizing waves, this means the fotons have enough energy to knock off electrons, and this makes them harmful.
Artificial lights tend to be more specific in the wavelengths that they emit, because they are made by design. Therefore they don’t emit any ultraviolet or ionizing radiation as that light is wasted energy for the purpose of lighting up a room.
Sun rays aren’t harmful in and of themselves. Just like everything in our lives, it’s moderation that is the key. Yes, excessive UVB from the sun causes sunburns, but you need a minimum amount of UVB every day in order to combine with a type of cholesterol in your body (there are multiple types) to produce Vitamin D, which fortifies bones.
As someone who suffered a really bad VitD deficiency, I can tell you, get your 15-20 minutes in the sun a day. Otherwise, months of not going out will lead to immense bone pain that will make you feel like your bones are dissolving, and it’s a pain and ache that is hard to describe.
Folate is also broken down by too much UV light, which folate is a key nutrient for DNA building and maintenance, leading to cancer if not in ample supply. This is why pregnant women should take a lot of folate if she is out in the sun a lot and should try to stay in the shade to keep it from breaking down, as the fetus is building a lot of DNA.
It’s all about moderation. Even O2, food, and water can all kill you in large enough doses.
Because the sun emitts UV-light, which is invisible for us. UV-light is ionizing and can therefore cause skin cancer.
Artificial light does not emit any kind of harmful radiation such as UV , Unless of course the light source you mention is specifically designed to emit UV light. But in that case i would not be around such a lightsource for too long
They are when they are UVB and UVC lights. UVA isn’t as strong, but the types of lights you see in tanning beds are UV and are still considered a cause for cancer in the same way as tanning out in the sun. You use these types of bulbs in basking lamps for reptiles and to make sure they synthesize the right nutrients, and get the heat they need.
Artificial lights DO harm your skin, in the same way the sun does, on a much weaker scale.
You should still wear sunscreen even if you work inside though. It’ll keep you looking 30 until you’re 50 something.
There are UV LEDs and you actually need to be careful with them as even the small lights in a proper flashlight could damage your skin or eyes.
Artificial rays don’t have radiation.
The sun is literally a giant explosion/nuclear bomb happening 24/7 and the result is radiation, heat, and light. Artificial light is just light
Harmful rays from the sun are UV light. Artificial lights typically produce little to none of that, as it is wasted energy, but fluorescent tubes do produce some and rumor has it you *can* get sunburn from them if you are exposed enough.
Tanning bed lights are UV and are harmful.
Desk lamps are different kind of light, and much, much less bright.
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