Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have "developed a drug that mimics sunlight to make the skin tan," BBC reports.

How it works: The drug "tricks the skin into producing the brown form of the pigment melanin" that, in tests on skin samples, blocked harmful UV rays.

Why it matters: Approximately 9,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer every day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, making it the most common form of cancer. If proven successful after further testing, the drug could play a key role in preventing skin cancer.

Bonus: The drug may even be able to slow the appearance of aging.