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From: nessus@nsc.UUCP (Kchula-Rrit)
Newsgroups: net.cooks,net.flame
Subject: Re: Re: Truth in Advertising?
Message-ID: <1894@nsc.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 26-Nov-84 13:43:18 EST
Article-I.D.: nsc.1894
Posted: Mon Nov 26 13:43:18 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 27-Nov-84 04:23:43 EST
References: <2559@dartvax.UUCP> <642@watdcsu.UUCP> <1245@utah-gr.UUCP> <2804@ucbcad.UUCP>
Organization: The Patriarchy of Kzin
Lines: 11

> What I've always wondered is why the closer to the equator people live, the
> darker their skin tends to be. It seems that in the interests of maintainting
> a reasonable body temperature, it should be just the opposite.
> 
> 	Wayne

I had heard that this has to do with the intensity of the sunlight in the
area being discussed.  Dark(er)-skinned people have more UV-absorbing compounds
in their skins which helps guard against skin damage/sunburn.  This would seem
to tally with the above observation.