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5 most stolen SUVs, CUVs
SUVs
5 most stolen SUVs, CUVs - photo by Robert Jackson/KSL

Three Ford models topped the list of most stolen SUVs and CUVs, according to a report released Monday.

Investigators from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, a not-for-profit organization, compiled data on stolen 2011 to 2013 model year SUVs and CUVs to determine which makes and models were most targeted by thieves from 2010 to 2013.

“SUVs and CUVs have become a popular choice for consumers over the past decade. As such, they have also become favored by car thieves,” researchers wrote in the report.

The Ford Escape, Ford Edge and Ford Explorer were stolen most often, researchers said. In total there were 1,421 Ford Escapes reported stolen in the three-year span. The Ford Edge was stolen 1,140 times and the Ford Explorer was stolen 912 times.

Nine of the 10 most stolen cars were CUVs. In general, researchers said compact CUVs were stolen the most often, with a total of 6,981 thefts. Large CUVs and mid-sized CUVs were both stolen about 3,200 times.

The state where the most cars were stolen was California, where 3,531 SUVs and CUVs were reported stolen during the three years.
Of the cars that were stolen, 87 percent of them were recovered by March 2014. The Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Cherokee had the largest percentages of vehicles that weren’t recovered, followed by the Cadillac Escalade and Land Rover Range Rover.

“These vehicles may have been targeted by sophisticated organized theft rings which dismantle stolen vehicles or parts, VIN switch them to resell to unsuspecting buyers, or export them to other countries,” researchers wrote.

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.