• Question: What happens to a banana if it is subjected to one minute of ultra violet light?

    Asked by marcusleonard6 to Andrew, Janey P, Kinda, Ravi, SarahJane on 18 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Andrew Manches

      Andrew Manches answered on 18 Jun 2013:

      It forms its own pair of sun glasses? (not my research area)

    • Photo: Sarah-Jane Walsh

      Sarah-Jane Walsh answered on 18 Jun 2013:

      It depends on the dose and intensity, there is natural UV radiation in sunlight so Bananas are always exposed to that. Also UV damages by causing mutations to occur, that’s why it damages our skin cells, i think as the banana is off the plant it shouldn’t do much damage. Did you know a banana is one of the most radioactive foods we eat! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_equivalent_dose

    • Photo: Jane Paget

      Jane Paget answered on 18 Jun 2013:

      Banana skins are made up of a whole complex ‘bunch’ (there’s a cheesy pun in there) of vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, sugars, chemicals etc. UV light can alter the structure of some of these chemicals causing them to break down. So it could be that the UV light could damage the banana skin and cause it rot quicker. On the 0ther hand it could do nothing at all (especially if only for one minute). But the likelihood of the skin being damaged would be greater if the UV exposure was for a longer period of time and at a higher intensity.

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