My dad was recently diagnosed with malignant melanoma, and apparently that means I'm at increased risk. I guess I need to start thinking about sun protection. Problem: I am very, very lazy. [more inside]
posted by craichead on Oct 17, 2009 - 40 answers

Blood. Let's say...a bucket full of blood. Now pour that on a flat stone surface. Then put that under the hot sun. Go away. But come back in a week or two. What's left? Anything? [more inside]
posted by ryecatcher on Oct 1, 2009 - 7 answers

Old sun-damaged skin all over my body--is it tilting at windmills to consider light therapy? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 24, 2009 - 7 answers

Where can I find Ryan Gosling's sunglasses in Half Nelson? [more inside]
posted by Groovytimes on Aug 14, 2009 - 5 answers

What is the term for the depiction in art of the sun's rays shining through or behind clouds? This phenomenon. Sometimes believed to be a form of theophany. Wikipedia has an article about it, but I can't remember the name to look it up. Thank you.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese on Jul 30, 2009 - 14 answers

I know there have been some other questions on SAD lamps, but I'm more interested in whether they actually do make a difference. Anecdotal and empirical evidence are both sought after. Also, recommendations in the UK. [more inside]
posted by jhighmore on Jul 25, 2009 - 16 answers

What is the best place to see a sunrise in/around Waukesha county, Wisconsin (just east of Milwaukee)? [more inside]
posted by niles on Jun 3, 2009 - 7 answers

Where can I find a sun lamp (or something similar) for a reasonable price that can be shipped to Edinburgh? [more inside]
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl on May 20, 2009 - 8 answers

Black balloons in chilly, sunny weather. Will they pop? [more inside]
posted by Lucinda on Mar 13, 2009 - 7 answers

A question from my five year old: What noise does the sun make? [more inside]
posted by Miss Otis' Egrets on Nov 11, 2008 - 22 answers

Having watched Thunderbolts of the Gods, and found it quite eye-opening, I'm wondering if there are compelling reasons to accept or not to accept the possibility that the Sun is made of electrical plasma, rather than being a nuclear furnace.
posted by Tarn on Oct 2, 2008 - 11 answers

I'm looking for a holiday destination. Last weeks of October where I can hike (mountains), bike (atb) and learn diving (padi). No resorts or too much luxury, just basic accomodation. I'm alone so it would be nice to meet more travellers. Doe you have suggestions?
posted by beemsterman on Sep 23, 2008 - 4 answers

Before I knew anything about India, I dated an Indian guy named Bitu (long i, long u: bee-too). I remember him telling me that it wasn't his real name, that it was a nickname and it meant 'son' in his language (or, possibly, 'sun'). I neglected to ask what language that was... and now I really want to know.
posted by bookish on Sep 17, 2008 - 8 answers

The girlfriend and I cannot take another mm of rain in Scotland. We want to go somewhere hot (europe...anywhere!...hot!) for 4-5 nights (leaving tomorrow) but cannot find anywhere helpful to book a place to go. Please... help... somebody.... impulsive.. to find a website that'll help so WE CAN BE DRY!! [more inside]
posted by you're only jung once on Aug 24, 2008 - 17 answers

Full-brimmed hats for sun protection of a male mid-30's scalp that aren't lame? Lame defined as fedoras, cowboy hats, 6 dollar buckets, or those floppy Vietnam combat things. [more inside]
posted by TheManChild2000 on Aug 19, 2008 - 23 answers

How much UV damage am I getting sitting in a classroom for 5 hours with a big window. [more inside]
posted by andoatnp on Jun 26, 2008 - 5 answers

(Reno filter) What hotels in Reno have a pool with good sun during the day? [more inside]
posted by Liver Killer on Jun 24, 2008 - 8 answers

How do I deal with a horrible sunburn? It's so bad that my shoulders have second degree burns and it hurts to move my arms. Is there a way to lessen the pain or somehow make my skin heal faster? I got the burn on Friday and have been applying aloe vera ever since.
posted by alitorbati on Jun 23, 2008 - 30 answers

I have large, detailed, black-ink tattoos that take up my arm from elbow to shoulder. I like them very much and don't want them to fade (they're 2 years old). [more inside]
posted by unknowncommand on Jun 9, 2008 - 10 answers

When are the sun's UV rays weaker: from 10am to 11am, or from 5pm to 6pm? (East coast USA, this month.) Beach has strict swimming hours, 10am-6pm. I'm looking for which is the better hour to go swimming -- regularly over the course of June -- in a bathing suit, very-wide-brimmed solid straw hat, and sunglasses, but no sunscreen.
posted by sparrows on Jun 8, 2008 - 15 answers

Car Sun Shade Question: I have a car sun-shade that is blue on one side and silverish on the other side. Which side should I face out to keep my car cooler? [more inside]
posted by boots77 on May 27, 2008 - 12 answers

Old Movie Filter: This is the question I joined MeFi to ask. I remember seeing a movie, on actual reels, when I was about seven at school. It has haunted me for the last twenty-two years. [more inside]
posted by littlerobothead on Mar 18, 2008 - 17 answers

I'm working on a computer simulation of the solar system, but I need data on the positions and velocities on planets and their moons. (more inside) [more inside]
posted by deansfurniture5 on Mar 17, 2008 - 5 answers

Would an expanding Sun really swallow the inner planets? [more inside]
posted by Burhanistan on Feb 5, 2008 - 17 answers

Is going to a tanning salon a good idea before a tropical vacation? [more inside]
posted by browse on Jan 25, 2008 - 27 answers

What domestic devices can be operated effectively on solar power these days? Know any interesting alternative uses? Wide open question.
posted by vizsla on Dec 28, 2007 - 11 answers

When I was about 10 or 12, I think, there was one summer where I was, I was told, "allergic to the sun." I've googled the phenomenon and I don't seem to fit the profile. What was this? [more inside]
posted by Morrigan on Dec 10, 2007 - 14 answers

Where can I go with the stipulations and budget that I have? [more inside]
posted by greta simone on Nov 8, 2007 - 10 answers

SurrealTelevisionAdFilter: Did my friend really see an ad in which a family reacts in abject terror when the cartoon sun character on the juice bottle comes to life at their breakfast table? [more inside]
posted by night kitchen on Oct 29, 2007 - 9 answers

Is it true that the skies in the Southern Hemisphere appear brighter and clearer than Northern Hemisphere skies? I have read this several times from various unscientific sources. If so, what is the reason?
posted by vizsla on Sep 10, 2007 - 7 answers

As of tomorrow, my car will be basking in the Burbank sun 9-6, 5 days a week. What can I do so that getting back in it at the end of the day won't be the most unpleasant experience of my life? [more inside]
posted by forallmankind on Jul 15, 2007 - 22 answers

Elite tips on avoiding sunburns that go beyond the standard online guides about staying out of the sun during the middle of the day and finding a high SPF sunblock for a light-skinned person about to embark on 3 weeks of way-too-much sun. [more inside]
posted by andoatnp on Jun 25, 2007 - 36 answers

I and my SO have to travel to the Sun City, Hilton Head, Florence part of South Carolina. We have a two day block where the person who we are to visit has to attend a conference. Whats to do in this area? Not interested in golf or other sports.
posted by Raybun on May 30, 2007 - 7 answers

I'm 50% Native American, and 50% Sicilian. Why am I sun burned so badly? [more inside]
posted by Jimmie on May 24, 2007 - 26 answers

Where could two twenty-somethings go from NYC for 4-5 days to find beautiful beaches and a touch of the exotic, without extreme heat or heavy rainstorms, in July? Ideally, someplace where this could be done <$1k/person. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 24, 2007 - 16 answers

School just ended, and I have two weeks before I start working. Where can I go on a spur of the moment solo trip? [more inside]
posted by snoogles on May 6, 2007 - 20 answers

Name that allergy / skin condition (not a 'see a doctor' question, promise). What am I actually allergic to? [more inside]
posted by twine42 on Feb 6, 2007 - 8 answers

Travel advice for a couple of Guys looking to make a drive to northern Florida a little more interesting? My 26 year old brother and I are planning to drive from Toronto to Destin, FLA in February. We have a few days to make the 20 hour trip and so would like to make it more interesting. [more inside]
posted by Richat on Jan 4, 2007 - 16 answers

Any recommendations for a natural sun lamp? [more inside]
posted by Tacos Are Pretty Great on Dec 26, 2006 - 8 answers

How best to extract the Java runtime environment for repackaging with an application? [more inside]
posted by ChrisR on Nov 20, 2006 - 19 answers

I'm working on a short story, a sort of parallel to Inconstant Moon by Larry Niven, that involves the Sun going nova, and its effects on Earth's last minutes/hours/days. I'm starting to wonder if his description of what would happen if the Sun went nova is 100% accurate, so I'd like to pick it apart. Secondarily, what would happen if the sun turned into a red giant, instead? [more inside]
posted by Merdryn on Nov 1, 2006 - 29 answers

if heat and light can be turned into usable energy, why don't we launch some collectors to orbit the sun and gather truck loads of the stuff that is otherwise dumped into space, then beam it home via microwave? [more inside]
posted by Tryptophan-5ht on Aug 20, 2006 - 25 answers

How do I take sunrise/sunset photos with a DSLR without blinding myself? I've heard that looking through a camera at the sun is bad for your eyes since it's magnifying the light. So how do I safely take pictures of a sunrise or sunset with a DSLR? Is it really that dangerous to look through the lens? Am I damaging my eye by doing so?
posted by aceyprime on Aug 14, 2006 - 12 answers

Are there *any* parts of the body that can be safely tanned without really having to worry about skin cancer? [more inside]
posted by BruceL on Aug 6, 2006 - 12 answers

Was there ever a plan for a public art project which would placed a giant rearview mirror next to Chicago's Lake Shore Drive? [more inside]
posted by Xalf on Jun 29, 2006 - 3 answers

Wiping non-Windows hard drives? [more inside]
posted by Cosine on Jun 28, 2006 - 18 answers

June 21st, the day of the summer solstice is the longest day of the year. Where in the central time zone, (or any time zone for that matter) is the sun directly over head at exactly midday? [more inside]
posted by ok on Jun 10, 2006 - 3 answers

Asking for the girlfriend (if that wasn't clear): My significant other is plagued by oral contraceptive -induced sunlight sensitivity. [more inside]
posted by glibhamdreck on May 12, 2006 - 12 answers

I'm looking for an app that will calculate how much sun different parts of my yard get over the year. [more inside]
posted by obiwanwasabi on Apr 10, 2006 - 7 answers

If April 6 and September 10 are the same length from sunrise to sunset, does the sun take the same path across the sky on both days? [more inside]
posted by squirrel on Mar 15, 2006 - 6 answers