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Apple CEO tells employees theres still much to do in wake of Harvey
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Tim Cook recently sent out an email to all employees, imploring them to continue helping Texas residents in the wake of the storms, according to Mashable. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
News Division
Published: Sep 2, 2017, 3:29 AM
Apple CEO Tim Cook isnt finished helping victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Cook recently sent out an email to all employees, imploring them to continue helping Texas residents in the wake of the storm, according to Mashable.

Cook revealed that the U.S. Coast Guard has been using special iPads to help coordinate their search and rescue missions.

Cook also encouraged employees to open up their homes to any residents suffering in Texas, adding that "the storm's impact is felt by all of us."

Theres still much to do, and Apple is committed to help, he wrote, according to Mashable.

Apple currently has 8,700 employees in Texas.

This email comes after the tech giant has collected donations for the Red Cross through iTunes. Cook said the company raised $1 million so far and will offer a $2 million donation, Mashable reported.

Other tech companies have joined the efforts to help Texas, according to TechCrunch.

  • Google pledged to match $1 million in donations to the Red Cross, earning $140,917 so far toward its goals. Its also added alerts to Texas and Houston that can help people find emergency numbers.
  • Facebook announced it would pledge up to $1 millionfor the Center for Disaster Philanthrophy, which offers donations after disasters.
  • Lyft is also accepting donations, pledging to donate $100,000 to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.
  • Airbnb also opened its platform to anyone displaced by the hurricane and floods, while also waiving the feeds and directing them toward free lodging locations, TechCrunch reported.
  • According to KTLA, wireless carriers T-Mobile is providing free texts, calls and data to affected customers, even those who dont have unlimited plans. AT&T will offer credits to those who receive extra charges, and Verizon will offer relief to those who use calls, texts and data. Sprint will waive all fees as well.
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
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Aug 13, 2018, 1:39 PM
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.