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9/11 memorial cross can remain in museum, court said
9.11 memorial cross
New York City, USA - May 6, 2011: The World Trade Center Cross, also known as The Ground Zero Cross, is seen being vied by people along Church Street, Lower Manhattan. - photo by Jay Lazarin, istockphoto.com/JayLazarin

The cross is a universal symbol of the Christian faith, displayed around the world in churches and homes. It brings people hope in violent times or memorializing those killed in the line of duty, and reminds believers of the power of faith when they spot it on a steeple or a friend's necklace.

But the cross can also be controversial. Its presence on public land has been challenged by secularists many times in America as a violation of the First Amendment's separation of church and state, most recently in New York City, San Diego and the Mojave Desert.

The New York case centers on a cross displayed at the 9/11 Memorial Museum. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday that it would be allowed to stay.

"The three-judge panel (ruled) … that the cross recovered from the rubble of the World Trade Center was more of a genuine historical artifact than a symbol of Christianity," New York Daily News reported.

Judge Reena Raggi explained in the court's decision that the design for the display of the cross illustrates the museum's intention to have it stand for more than Christian belief. "While the cross at Ground Zero … is a religious symbol that was used in connection with religious rituals at the attack site, the accompanying textual panel is plainly historical rather than theological in recounting the facts of discovery and subsequent use," she wrote.

American Atheists first filed the suit in 2011, claiming that the cross caused its members "headaches, indigestion and mental pain," Religion News Service reported. The group asserted that displaying the religious symbol in a museum partly funded by public funds was unconstitutional.

After the lawsuit was dismissed in 2013, the group revised its claim on appeal, asking that only a plaque acknowledging the atheists who died on 9/11 be added to the cross display. But the appellate found no need to alter a display designed to recognize the cross' historical, not religious, significance.

The Ground Zero cross became a symbol of hope in the aftermath of the collapse of the World Trade Center twin towers. "The 17-foot cross in the museum was erected by rescue and recovery workers, and built from intersecting steel beams," CNN explained. It is now one of the 1,000 artifacts on display at the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

Other cases have similarly hinged upon the dual role of the cross as a symbol of faith and an item of remembrance.
In San Diego, the Mt. Soledad cross has been the center of a legal fight for more than six years. The Los Angeles Timesexplained that the ultimate decision will depend upon what the court sees as the cross' purpose. The 43-foot cross is surrounded by plaques honoring veterans.

"The issue is whether the cross is a war memorial that should be allowed to remain, or an improper endorsement of a specific religion that should be removed," the L.A. Times reported.
Mark Silk wrote for Religion News Service about San Diego's Mt. Soledad cross and the legality of religious displays in general in December, noting that the laws surrounding public display of religious symbols are currently "in flux."
"For now … the operative principle is that displays on public land are impermissible if they suggest a government endorsement or preference for a particular religious belief or practice," Silk concluded.

Email: kdallas@deseretnews.com Twitter: @kelsey_dallas

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.