Australia's summer UV levels are high enough to cause sunburn in as little as 11 minutes.
Yet the summer sun in the Northern Hemisphere rarely feels that full on.
So why does our sunlight have that extra "bite"?
Spoiler: it's not the hole in the ozone layer.
You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.
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[email protected]Featuring:
David Whiteman, medical epidemiologist and Cancer Control group leader at QIMR Berghofer
More information:
Why is UV so high during Australia's summer? The ozone hole is not to blame
Cancer Council — UV Radiation
World Health Organization — Radiation: The ultraviolet (UV) index
CSIRO — The future of the ozone hole
This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.