OUR STORY IS A STORY ABOUT THE SUN
[SOLAR CONDITIONS]
- Formation of the sun -4.6 billion years ago: under the influence of gravity, a glowing sphere formed from a huge cloud of dust and gas. A star is born. One star in a cosmos of billions, and yet the most special to planet Earth and its ecosystems. The ever-shining sphere in our sky may sometimes seem obvious - but chance strikes a multitude of precise conditions for life as we know today.
- Earthly conditions -
Orbiting 150 million kilometers around this central star is Planet Earth. It is precisely this distance that allows to maintain an atmosphere and temperature in which water occurs in liquid, gas and solid form, and thus allowing life to thrive on Earth. Yet it will take a long time until life on Earth - as we know it today - can develop.
- Viable atmosphere -
2.4 billion years ago: an essential turning point in the history of life on Earth .
Cyanobacteria
develop the ability to use sunlight to convert water and carbon into hydrogen and oxygen, a process known as photosynthesis. The abundant byproduct oxygen from this process leds to an irreversible change in the composition of the atmosphere. The newly created environment gave aerobic life forms a chance, and respiration became the norm for all life on Earth. The large amount of oxygen - escaping as a byproduct from this process - leads to the formation of the ozone layer. Organisms deep in the ocean could now spread to shallow waters and land, protected from the extremely harmful uv-c radiation.However, it is only when the sun eclipsed for a long period of time that mammals could fully develop. In the absence of the sun, they occupied a new ecological niche. And under the influence of the sun's energy, light and heat, the first primates evolved. Many organisms, including anthropoid apes, developed complex light receptors to take advantage of the abundant sunlight, making them more proficient at finding food, navigating and avoiding predators which increased their chances of survival.
[SUN AND SKIN]
The sun's radiation varies depending on the position on Earth and is strongest around the equator, where early human development took place. In response to this strong exposure,
skin pigmentation
developed. Dark skin filters UV radiation and protects against its adverse effects. When humans moved from the equatorial region to less sunny areas, strong skin pigmentation prevented them from absorbing enough sunlight. Neanderthals, however, who had lived in these areas for 150,000 years, had developed lighter skin in response to the less sunny conditions. It is through procreation with the Neanderthals that homo sapiens was able to adapt and survive. It makes the modern European a human with the genetic solar adaptations of the Neanderthals . - Heliocentrism and the meaning of the sun -
Ever since, the sun has fascinated humanity and plays a central role in myths and cultures, steeped in symbolism and cultural meanings. The sun as a sign for
strength
, light
, transformation
and fertility
. Source of worship
and veneration
. By means of the sun and its neighboring stars, humans searched for meaning, hope, knowledge and the place of their species in the world. 1543: Nicolaus Copernicus publishes the book ‘De revolutionibus orbium coelestium’ and thereby turns around long-held beliefs, such as geocentrism. [SUN AND TECHNOLOGY]
Half a century later, Galileo Galilei pointed his telescope at the celestial sky and confirmed that not humans and the planet Earth, but the sun is central to the then known universe. The telescope became an extension of human’s senses, and the way they look at the universe, the sun and themselves has changed ever since.Three centuries later, the Inouye Telescope will collect
more information
about the sun during its first five years of its operation than all the data since Galileo's observations in 1612 combined. Together with the Parker Solar Probe
, this technology will radically change human’s understanding of the sun. Every second this man-made probe flies closer than ever to the surface of the sun, expanding the knowledge of this crucial celestial body with measurements and images The recognition of the sun as a central object in the solar system was a driving force for the scientific revolution. But, by focusing exclusively on this scientific knowledge, facts and measurements, an essential aspect of human experience is at its risk - its connection to the natural world. There is more knowledge than ever about the sun's influence on the universe, the planet, vegetation and the human body, at the same time people are more disconnected from the natural world than before. Much can be learned ancient solar myths and cultures.
[SUN AND SKIN]
- Agricultural revolution: a turning point in the relationship to the sun -
In 365.265 days, Planet Earth orbits the sun. The orbit and specific inclination of the Earth's axis on this orbit determine the rhythm of the seasons, climate, vegetation, resources and agriculture peculiar to each location.
8500 B.C.: The agricultural revolution marks a turning point in the relationship between human beings and the sun. Climatic conditions in the so-called “Fertile Crescent” were opportune for agriculture, with a suitable, relatively dry climate and plant and grain species suitable for domestication.
Food-gatherer-hunters settled in permanent settlements and daily activities changed from a search for food in a vast area to hard labor in an open field. An important consequence of agrarian society was that over the centuries, those who did not have to work in the field spent most of their time indoors and considered themselves privileged. Sun-tanned skin was associated with intense labor on the field. Upper-class women did not go outside
without completely covering their bodies
so that not a single freckle or blush had a chance. Ranging from parasols
to hats, gloves and visards
- the sun protection industry flourished like never before. It was only when working class jobs moved indoors during the Industrial Revolution that tanned skin in Western Europe gradually lost its social recognition as a sign of the lower class. - Sun and health -
The first report of the sun's negative effects dates only to the 19th century. It was the female mountaineer
Henriette d'Angeville
who first described the negative effects of the sun in 1838. In the travelog of her ascent of Mont Blanc, she speaks of her gritted, purple-colored skin, black lips covered with blisters and white of eyes crisscrossed with dark red veins. A century later, the disciplines of photobiology and photodermatology emerged. The therapeutic benefits of sunlight were discovered too. Heliotherapy
was the answer to several conditions due to lack of sunlight. Exposure to artificial as well as natural sunlight was prescribed against psoriasis, rickets and tuberculosis, among others. The latter left a great impression in modernist architecture, Architectural historian Colomina describes in the book X-Ray Architecture how modern architecture was primarily related to a health campaign. In response to the tuberculosis epidemic, a solar architecture emerged in which sanatoria - such as Alvar Aalto's Paimio Sanatorium
- were designed to maximize the amount of light that could enter
.- Skin color and the perception of class, gender and race -
Around the same time, the first passenger planes and cruise ships were taking affluent families to
sunny destinations
. Sun-tanned skin became a status symbol, a sign of the ability to spend vacations abroad. Under the influence of Coco Chanel, who returned sun-tanned from the South in 1920
, sunbathing in the West became a permanent desire. A tanned skin became a beauty ideal in the Western world, which a woman had to comply with in the first place. Countless objects, ranging from bikinis
to sun mirrors
promoted this new ideal. In other parts of the world, however, snow-white skin remains coveted. The facekini
facilitates well-to-do women a day in the sun without affecting their light complexion - and status. In contrast, tanned skin in men is often associated with outdoor work or prolonged athletic endeavors. Extreme tanlines
are then considered a sign of their impressive, heroic achievements.Late 1970s: the introduction of
the tanning bed
. A sun-tanned skin is now possible all year round. A
fake orange glow
as a sign of health. In sports culture, this artificial sunlight is then coveted by the highly tanned tint that athletes make their muscles look more toned
. Knowledge of the health risks and strict legislation on artificial sunlight caused the popularity of tanning beds to decline - thankfully. Self-tanners, spray tans and distant trips to the sun maintained the perception of the sun tan as a sign of prosperity, health and gender.With the rise of social media and greater awareness of cultural appropriation and racial identity issues, the phenomenon of blackfishing has received an increasing attention. Following the example of influencers, countless people are appropriating a darker skincolor in favor of beauty ideals. At the same time, they are able to maintain their whiteness. It makes sun-tanned skin a symbolic capital, reserved for white people.
We need to think about how we value sun-tanned skin, in a world where people of color are still discriminated against because of their natural dark skin color.
- Sun and skin: deficiency and overexposure -
People have been moving faster and more frequently over longer distances in recent decades. As a result, the melanin levels of most are most likely no longer compatible with sun exposure conditions. Regardless of the time of year, we work year-round in a 9-to-5 rhythm cooped up in offices, workplaces, shopping malls, indoor transportation and thus spend more and more time indoors. A vitamin D deficiency is thus a reality for about 80% of the Western European population at the end of winter, potentially resulting in osteoporosis, muscle pain, a weakened immune system, dejection and depression. Winter blues are also a result of lack of sunlight. The perception of daylight on our retinas impacts our biorhythms and eliminates restlessness and fatigue. Although ideal sun exposure depends on individual factors, geographical location and weather conditions, it is essential for a healthy and happy life. It is important to protect ourselves from its harmful effects, but at the same time we should also give ourselves adequate sun exposure.
[SUN AND TIME]
- Sun and time -
The relationship between the sun and the earth determines our perception of time. Sundials are ancient objects that reflect this perception of time. The first sundials marked the reciprocal seasons and movement of celestial bodies. Later, they were used for coordination in daily life, such as prayer sessions, meals and social activities . A new sense of time developed during the Middle Ages, driven by emerging international trade,
“time” became “money"
. Today, atomic clocks form the basis for global time standards. Their unprecedented precision, based on atomic vibrations, goes hand in hand with a society under constant time pressure. Natural solar time and our physical biorhythms are often neglected in favor of social time, leading to overwork and a jaded society.- Unpredictable sun -
Although the sun on our horizon seems like a constant, reliable companion, nothing could be further from the truth. September 1859: The Carrington Event
high-tech and satellite communications
- would lead to a global catastrophe. Satellites, servers, communication systems, power plants would become inoperable in an instant. To prevent this, solar activity and space weather are carefully monitored so that action can be taken in time [SUN AND SKIN]
- Rhythmic sun -
A closer look at the sun reveals a dynamic and unpredictable cosmic body.
Sunspots
, for example, are capable of sending energy bursts far into interplanetary space. These cooler regions on the surface, formed by intense magnetic activity, follow an 11-year cyclical pattern. Although these rhythmic fluctuations of energy are not directly perceptible to the naked eye or consciously felt, it has a significant impact on our daily lives. It affects our circadian rhythms, which in turn affects our development, metabolism and daily information processing. Rhythmic fluctuations in solar activity are reflected in blood flocculation and cell yield, while peaks and troughs in solar activity are associated with global epidemics. Underlying this, according to many scientists, is a global vitamin D deficiency - due to a change in ozone layer thickness and associated excessive weakening of UV radiation. But the sun also seems to be a political player.
Chizhevsky
- pioneer in solar biology - related the sun's higher activity to revolutionary mass movements. According to his observation, sunspot activity peaked during such historical events as the French and Russian Revolution. The year 2008, on the other hand, had more than 265 days without solar activity; it will go down in history as the year of the global credit crisis. Research shows that the sun has known this behavior for a long time. The oldest evidence
currently known dates back at least 290 million years. In the annual rings of a fossilized tree from the Paleozoic era, scientists read the same 11-year cyclical behavior [SUN AND TECHNOLOGY]
Long-term climate fluctuations on Earth, such as the Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age, are attributed to natural variations in solar activity. Climate skeptics like to point to these data and also argue that current global warming can be attributed to increased solar activity. Although solar activity plays a role in the climate system, it is not sufficient to explain the recent rapid warming. Scientists therefore agree that current global warming is mainly caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. In the context of climate change,
geoengineering
- the large-scale intervention in Earth's natural systems through techniques and technologies - is being explored as a potential solution. For example, various ways to reduce the sun's irradiance
on Earth and counteract warming by changing the amount of sunlight absorbed or reflected
a in the atmosphere are being explored. Humans are not the only species subject to solar activity. Nature controls a wide variety of mechanisms and behavioral patterns that attest to a fundamental connection with the sun. Scientists hypothesize that cyclical solar energy is responsible for the enigmatic flowering rhythms of exotic bamboo species. 11, 22, 33, some even only every 88 years. The red theunis flower blooms mainly during high solar activity. In fact, their relationship is so strong that the plant can be used as a measure of the number of sunspots, to the day. Several animal species have mastered the art of sunbathing,
sunning
, in which their black skin, fur or feathers maximally absorb sunlight for heat regulation and energy conservation. The seemingly simple nudibranchs
enter into a unique symbiosis with chloroplasts, the organelles responsible for photosynthesis in plants. By feeding on algae and then incorporating the chloroplasts into their own cells, they can use solar energy to supplement their metabolism. [SUN AND ENERGY]
- Harvest of sun rays - The fate of life on Earth depends on cosmic processes. We live not only on Earth, but also in solar space. Man also learned to make clever use of its energy, heat and light. For
drying bricks
, bleaching cloth
and harvesting salt
. From solar architecture
, calendar
and navigation systems
,solar boosters, solar water heaters, to the latest solar cell technology. As humans have slowly depleted the energy resources beneath the earth's crust, energy generated by the sun's rays is becoming an increasingly important resource. With these renewable sources connected to the grid, the answer to the planetary crisis looks like the status quo rather than a radical departure from our comfortable, unlimited energy consumption. Electric cars powered by solar energy, our household and industries powered by the harvest of the solar panels on our roof. The concept of green growth suggests that our economies can continue to grow without limit by simply replacing polluting fossil fuels with renewable energy and environmentally friendly technologies. It is contradictory to believe that the answer to waste, pollution and dwindling resource availability lies in building even more. An illusion we are only too happy to believe because it is not as threatening to the status quo as more radical proposals like degrowth . Even with more efficient production techniques, higher efficiency of solar panels and greater diffusion of technology, the energy transition is not realistic . In addition to harvesting solar energy to provide us with electricity, scientists are working to build our own sun. A nuclear fusion-based solar power plant would potentially provide energy with very little matter, but this technology also has limitations. Although the amount of radioactive waste is smaller than nuclear fission, it remains a challenge. The use of the substance tritium also adds an additional limitation. Scarce resources and knowledge about a crucial technology also brings geopolitical challenges. Finally, the lack of access to this energy can foster great inequality. The realization that materials are not available indefinitely requires an adjustment of our demand and ability to work within the constraints imposed by nature, even with promising renewable technology.