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86-year-old grandpa learns to knit, donates caps for preemies
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Not only can you teach an old dog new tricks, but that dog might just become the master. - photo by Jessica Ivins
ACWORTH, Ga. Not only can you teach an old dog new tricks, but that dog might just become the master.

When 86-year-old Ed Moseley learned his assisted-living home was participating in a project that involved knitting tiny caps for premature babies in the NICU, he knew he wanted to participate, according to Today. The only issue? He had no idea how to knit.

Moseley, a grandfather of five and great-grandfather to eight, turned to his daughter for help. She hooked him up with an introductory kit, needles and yarn.

I mean, I can read, and I can follow directions, Moseley told Today. There was a little trial and error there at the beginning, but eventually I got the hang of it.

Moseley got to work, and once he caught on, he caught fire. Part of his motivation in learning the new craft was to present the families of the sick babies with something truly meaningful.

Its really nice to make a product that somebody really needs and has a purpose, he said.

Each time he finished a cap, Moseley would lay it out on his big, red couch. A good idea in theory, until he found himself without a place to sit. In all, Moseley knitted a whopping 55 hats for the hospital, inspiring his care manager and a local high school student to join in his effort.

Earlier this month, Moseley walked into the Northside Hospital Atlanta armed with 300 caps.

Its amazing to think about how many lives his caps will touch, JoAn Hobbs, the director of Moseleys assisted living community, told Today. There is something special about seniors giving to preemies.

Moseleys story has caught the attention of thousands across the country, some of whom have sent skeins of yarn to help him with his project.

Moseley also fulfills custom orders and requests, something thats pretty impressive considering hes a relative newbie to the knitting biz. In fact, the hospital was so moved by his enthusiasm that hes been asked to take on a new project: knitting red hats for newborns in the cardiac wing.

Its great to receive these wonderful gifts, Northside nurse Linda Kelly told Today. Many times, our families dont expect to be introduced to the special care nursery, so to have a gift left at the bedside or a nurse put the hat on the little babys head makes it all seem less like a hospital.
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.