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Arkansas becomes the first state to mandate computer science offerings
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Arkansas leads the way in computer science education with the passage of a bill requiring high schools to offer computer science courses. - photo by Leslie Corbly
Next school year, Arkansas will become the first state to require all public high schools and charter schools to offer classes in computer science, courtesy of a bill signed into law last month by Gov. Asa Hutchinson, reports Wired.

Hutchinson said the next generation would benefit economically by being more well-versed in computer science. Whether youre looking at manufacturing and the use of robotics or the knowledge industries, they need computer programmers, he said.

In addition to passing the law, Arkansas allotted $5 million for implementation this fall. The money will serve a dual purpose to train teachers and also reward classes with high performance and attendance, reports Wired.

Its a small investment with the opportunity for a huge return, said Hutchinson.

An online platform, Virtual Arkansas, will provide poorer districts online classes to make sure that students in all districts have access to computer science courses, reports Education Week.

"We will serve school districts that do not have a qualified teacher or the resources locally to offer these new computer science courses," said Cathi Swan of Virtual Arkansas.

The passage of the law makes Arkansas as a national leader in computer science education. Nationwide, only one in 10 high schools are teaching computer science and Arkansas is among few states taking action to address this issue, according to Education Week.

The law makes good on a campaign promise Hutchinson made to bring computer science classes to all students. While the classes are not mandatory, they do provide students the opportunity to pursue computer science as well as learn practical skills, reports Ubergizmo.

The importance of improving coding knowledge has been gaining traction in recent years. In 2013, President Obama endorsed the idea of making coding classes required material, saying, I want to make sure that (young people) know how to produce stuff using computers and not just consume stuff, reports Ubergizmo.
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.