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13 words to say goodbye to in 2016
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2016 is here, which means it's time to drop some of your bad habits. Or, in the case of one college report, at least these 13 different words. - photo by Herb Scribner
Some words are celebrated more than others. Oxford Dictionaries recently named the Face with Tears of Joy emoji word of the year, while Merriam-Webster said the word of the year was, well, ism.

And while these words of the year werent exactly words in the truest sense, they were some of the most frequently used words in 2015, which is why they were given such an honor.

But not all words receive such high accolades. In fact, as 2016 got off the ground this week, many writers across the Internet unveiled what words they think need to, well, disappear.

MTVs Taylor Trudon said people in 2016 need to drop words like lit, woke and savage. These words certainly wont go away in the greater American vernacular, but their new definitions have been a cause for concern, Trudon wrote. For example, words like lit and woke refer to something being amazing or becoming aware of something, respectively, which arent their true definitions.

Bill Schulz of The Daily Beast similarly offered his thoughts on what words people need to say goodbye to this year. The phrase I feel like topped his chart, along with its acronym IFL, and so did so, at least in terms of using it at the beginning of sentences and for dramatic effect.

Schulz also said the phrase BT-Dubs a reference to BTW or by the way as well as the phrase a hundred percent, a word often used to add hyperbole, need to be dropped from American conversation.

These sort of words, though, reference something bigger about our culture, Schulz said. People use these words to feel like they fit in, The Daily Beast reported.

Weve done this forever, American University professor Naomi S. Baron told The Daily Beast. Acronyms, shortened words its never been about saving time or instant messaging, its always been about sounding cool or in the know."

Still, this hasnt prevented academics from choosing words that need to get the fetch treatment and be stopped ahead of time.

Lake Superior State University published its 41st annual list of banished words that comes from nominations from more than 800 entries.

Overused words and phrases are problematic for thousands of Queen's English stakeholders, the lists press release said. Once something is banished, there's no walking it back; that's our secret sauce,' and theres no price point for that.

Heres a look at some of the words on the list and their definitions.

So

The word is often used for hyperbole, or to begin a sentence.

Conversation

The word is often used by media members to reference a larger topic that expands to many people.

Problematic

This word, according to the LSSU list, took the place of that is a problem and can often be used as hyperbole for things that arent too, well, problematic.

Stakeholder

Though this word is supposed to reference people who have a say in a product or business, people use it now to describe anyone involved in any situation, the list said.

Price point

This word is the result of two words being used together when only the first one, price, is necessary.

Secret sauce

Businesses have started to use this as a way of cracking the code or finding the secret, when in reality its more fitting for fast food, the list explained.

Break the Internet

The word is often used on the Internet to describe topics, trends and stories that have gone viral.

Walk it back

This phrase is often used by politicians to take back or retract a statement, the list said.

Presser

Some journalists use this to refer to a press conference.

Manspreading

This word references a man spreading his legs a little too far for comfort on a train or at an event, the list said.

Vape

This word refers to using an e-cigarette, since devices for smoking e-cigarettes emit vapor instead of smoke, the list said.

Giving me life

People who are excited use this word, when in reality theyre already living.

Physicality

Sports broadcasters and fans use this word a lot to describe a player or athlete who tends to be more aggressive, the list said.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.