[John Chapman (OP)]

I've been wondering where Neil has got to? It's been nearly a month since he last posted and the site just isn't the same without him. I hope he's off on a really good holiday and not unwell, or something.

Since I know you will all be missing him too I thought I would try to post a question in his unique sheepy style. So, Neil, wherever you are, this is to help us go cold turkey till you return and is meant as a tribute. I hope things are well. Come back soon.
 

[John Chapman (OP)]

Dearest Peeps of heliocentric expertise and astrofizzycool knowledge.

As a stand-in sheepy I of course luff the Sun.   It is my all time favourite red, hot and burny thing that sits in the sky and makes me red, hot and burny too.

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Me enjoying kwality time in the sun with stand-in wifey.

Just before this picture was taken stand-in wifey rubbed some factor 8 into my back. It stops the UV rays, ewe know. That should reduce the chances of me developing melanomas, but will it also reduce my tan? And wot about my skin making Vitamin D? Will that stop too?

Unfortunately, we didn't have enough factor 8 for her as well and, when we woke up, she looked like this:

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But if I send her off to be tested will she be crammed full of Vitamin D?


Ewe see it is something I really do not know. And I do not like not knowing what I do not know and would like to know it. Can ewe help?




hugs & shmishes



mwah mwah mwah !!




Stand-in Neil
...The sun has got his hat on and he's coming out to play.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 

[Geezer]

Yikes!

Wifey's looking a tad overdone. Better immerse her in a bucket of calamine lotion PDQ. (I hear it's actually of little benefit, unless you happen to sell the stuff.)

[RD]

Déjà vu ... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=26857.0

[Im a Geek on the Edge]

You probably know that Dr Karl does a radio program (and podcast) which is a sort of Australian equivalent to The Naked Scientists. I'm sure I once heard him say that in Australia vitamin D deficiency is becoming an increasingly serious problem because of all the suncream they slap on over there. So if there's not enough UV getting through to make vitamin D is there enough getting through to produce a tan?

I can't honestly believe that Australians are going around looking all pasty and pale. But then I wouldn't have believed you could have vitamin D deficiency in Australia either!

[RD]

...  I wouldn't have believed you could have vitamin D deficiency in Australia

Maybe if you wear a burqa ... http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSHAR56610220070625