Cyanobacteria, a blue-green algae which is said to be one of the earliest forms of life on earth, may be the key to a new sunscreen which blocks out harmful and potentially dangerous UV rays.  The microorganism has evolved over the past few million years to develop a mechanism for releasing amino acids. These amino acids absorb the dangerous spectrums of visible light and protect its DNA from damage.

Researchers at Harvard University have managed to isolate the specific biosynthetic enzymes that act as sunscreen molecules. This could provide a natural variation of sunscreen, without the chemicals which some people have bad reactions to.