“The most obvious — and most discussed — aspect of human geographical variability is skin color. Most people would say that skin color becomes darker towards the Equator to give more protection against tropical sunlight. But that claimed correlation of skin color with latitude is riddled with exceptions, and that functional interpretation of the correlation is debated. Most scientists shy away from the whole subject because it so interests racists, and the motives of scientists studying it become suspect.

Jablonski and Chaplin have brought order to this confused field, starting with quantitative measurements of skin color and sunlight. By convincingly identifying the strongest correlate of skin color, they open the door for anthropologists to explore other correlates and exceptions.” (Science Week)