eli5: Why are the sun rays harmful but not rays for artificial lights?
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The sun is hotter and emits rays of a higher frequency. We can’t construct practical lamps that are as hot and last a long time. The power of artificial lighting is also lower. If you turn on a lamp on a sunny day, you can barely see it and can look directly at it without being blinded.
Gas discharge lamps can emit ultraviolet frequencies without using extreme heat. These lamps are harmful to plastics and delicate historical artifacts by making them turn yellow and crack. They can also harm eyes. But their power is much lower than that of the sun, and their harm takes a long time to set in.
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