Scientists are turning to nature for eco-friendly sunscreens. Peter Cade via Getty Images

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Let’s face it, sunscreen is important to our health, but can really be a drag. Some feel greasy, they wear off after only two hours, and finding the right one can feel like a game of whack-a-mole. Certain ingredients can also pollute the planet’s critical coral reefs, so scientists around the world are looking to nature to create new formulas. Pollen could serve as an eco-friendly sunscreen solution , but there could be an even smaller source—bacteria. Escherichia coli, better known as E. coli , may help create an ultra violet (UV) compound that can be used in sunscreens. The findings are detailed in a study published today in the journal Trends in Biotechnology .

To survive relentless sunlight in the open ocean, fish can make their own natural sunscreen with a UV-protective compound called gadusol.…