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Amazon finishes visiting its top 20 contenders for HQ2. Heres what we know
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Amazon will raise its yearly subscription price to Amazon Prime from $99 to $119 per year, according to multiple news reports. - photo by Herb Scribner
The search is almost over.

Citing sources close to the process, NBC News reported that Amazon has finished visiting all 20 cities on its short list of possible locations for its second headquarters.

Amazon is now one step further in deciding which city will host the companys second headquarters, which is reported to net $5 billion and create 50,000 jobs.

Despite submitting a proposal and bid, no Utah cities made the final list.

Regardless of which city wins the Amazon race, locations on the finalist list have already seen an increase in interest.

For example, Newark, New Jersey; Austin, Texas; and Philadelphia all saw climbs in economic development inquiries since Amazon announced those cities were on the short list, NBC reported.

Were seeing this halo effect, and were excited, said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. It has provided renewed interest in the City of Newark. Our city is changing, and this buzz has helped change the perception.

Lauren Cox, who works in Philadelphias Department of Commerce, saw something similar.

Since the HQ2 bid, we have experienced a number of companies who reference the Amazon pitch as a catalyst for their interest in Philadelphia as a location for business operations, she said, according to NBC News. One London company, which had Philadelphia on its short list last fall, already began its move to the city in January.

It remains unclear where Amazon will build its second headquarters. But Arlington, Texas, might have some additional insights into what Amazon wants from its future host.

Arlington submitted a bid to Amazon and was added to the short list. However, Amazon passed on the city, according to officials who spoke with CNNMoney.

"I think they're looking for a more advanced urban setting," Mayor Jeff Williams told CNN.

Indeed, major urban cities like New York, Boston and Washington, D.C., are all on Amazons list of potential cities.

The greater Washington, D.C., area seems to be a frontrunner for the new spot. According to Business Insider, theres plenty of evidence that Amazon will select the nations capital, including Amazons recent lobbying efforts in Washington, the fact that three contenders are in the D.C. area, and a viral news story out of Arlington, Virginia (more on that here).
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.