Hubermanlong wavelength light is the key

Sunlight is full spectrum, and Huberman says the long wavelength part, red and near-infrared, is what you want — while UV is the part to limit.Huberman says sunlight's long wavelength part is what you want. UV is the part to limit.

0:00Plays via YouTube

Key takeaways

  • Huberman says sunlight is full spectrum — UV, short, medium and long wavelength — and that the long wavelength end is the part that does the work.
  • He says you need some UV for vitamin D, but too much damages skin and accelerates aging.
  • He cites positive findings for long wavelength light in recovery from surgery and illness, respiratory infections, skin, eyes, and longevity.
  • He says you don't need special equipment — in addition to sunlight, a red incandescent light and a red LED put out long wavelength light.

In their words

“The long wavelength light turns out to be the key. Sunlight is full spectrum.”
Andrew Huberman1:18:20
“Recovery from surgery, recovery from illness, staving off illness… skin health, eye health, longevity is get that long wavelength light.”
Andrew Huberman1:20:28
“So, we're going to hear about supplementing with long wavelength light. ... Immensely beneficial also for mental health and for physical health.”
Andrew Huberman1:22:25

Context

Andrew Huberman, a Stanford neuroscientist and host of Huberman Lab, joined Megyn Kelly to discuss his book Protocols. About an hour and eighteen minutes in, he broke sunlight into its parts — UV, short, medium and long wavelength — and argued that the long-wavelength end is the part that does the work, while UV is the part to limit. He returns to the same point a couple of minutes later with a list of what the research has looked at.

Go to the source

Updated Sep 28, 2026