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Reference Terms
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Sunscreen

Sunscreen (also known as sunblock) is a lotion, spray or other topical product that helps protect the skin from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and which reduces sunburn and other skin damage, ultimately leading to a lower risk of skin cancer.

The best sunscreens protect against both UVB (ultraviolet radiation with wavelength between 290 and 320 nanometres), which can cause sunburn, and UVA (between 320 and 400 nanometres), which damages the skin with more long-term effects, such as premature skin aging. Most sunscreens work by containing either an organic chemical compound that absorbs ultraviolet light (such as oxybenzone) or an opaque material that reflects light (such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide), or a combination of both. Typically, absorptive materials are referred to as chemical blocks, whereas opaque materials are mineral or physical blocks.

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April 3, 2026

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A surprising new study suggests that genetics may change how diet affects brain health—especially when it comes to Alzheimer’s risk. Researchers found that older adults carrying high-risk APOE gene variants didn’t show the expected cognitive ...
Scientists have taken a major step toward protecting the very cells that make sharp, colorful vision possible. By testing more than 2,700 compounds in thousands of lab-grown human retinal models, ...
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A deadly parasite responsible for sleeping sickness has been found using a surprisingly precise trick to stay hidden in the human bloodstream. Scientists discovered a protein called ESB2 that acts ...
Colorectal cancer may carry a unique microbial “fingerprint,” setting it apart from other cancers and opening a new frontier in diagnosis and treatment. By analyzing DNA from over 9,000 patients, researchers discovered that only colorectal ...

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