Sunlight’s role in recovery and wellbeing highlighted

As we were about to enter the summer of 2019, the hottest of the four temperate seasons, New Scientist issued two magazine editions – on 16 March and 1 June – with leading front page ‘anchor articles’ entitled ‘Let the sun shine in – Why blocking out the sun is damaging your health’, and ‘Light up your life – How getting more daylight can transform your health’. Little did we know that the weather stations would monitor the most extreme weather ever recorded in the UK. Both these articles were authored by Linda Geddes, author of Chasing the Sun, and The New Science of Sunlight and how it shapes our bodies and minds. In essence, the articles investigated and informed the reader about the conflict between applying sunscreen to prevent skin cancer, and sunlight deprivation doing more harm to health than good. Much supporting and compelling evidence was investigated in both articles. 

Further to Linda Geddes’ considerable contribution in this field, Richard Hobday, an authority on sunlight and health in the building environment, as well as a specialist in solar technology and energy conservation, has contributed much to this debate. He has authored two popular books on the subject, entitled The Healing Sun: Sunlight and Health in the 21st Century and The Light Revolution: Health Architecture and the Sun, providing valuable insights, historical background, research, and evidence, on how to promote health in the built environment. 

Clinicians’ concerns