Thinking about your sun exposure this summer? Journalist Rowan Jacobsen has answers

In this episode of The Sunday Long Read Podcast, Rowan Jacobsen, a journalist and author, discusses his reporting on the benefits of sunlight and the complexities surrounding sun exposure, sunscreen use, and autoimmune diseases. Jacobsen shares insights from his research, including a Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at MIT, and how he balances the risks and benefits of sunlight. The conversation covers the impact of UV light on conditions like MS and psoriasis, the nuances of sunscreen usage based on skin type and location, and the importance of understanding the skin as an active communicator within the body. Jacobsen also touches on his upcoming book and a personal experiment involving living without artificial lights in the Sonoran Desert, emphasizing the need for a more nuanced understanding of our relationship with the sun.