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As 'Sesame Street' debuts on HBO, some ask who the new show is for
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Critics are asking if kids without premium cable might know how to get to Sesame Street as the legendary show moves to its new home on HBO. - photo by Chandra Johnson
Chandra Johnson
Deseret News
Published: Feb 16, 2016, 8:10 AM
For almost 50 years, there's been one answer to the iconic question of "Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?": Public television.

But since Big Bird and the gang packed up and moved to HBO this winter, some critics are questioning if the new "Sesame Street" is staying true to its original purpose of wholesome educational entertainment for children.

Although edited versions of new episodes will air on PBS nine months after airing on HBO, Gizmodo worried that the show, once a staple of American childhood, will be less accessible to the average child it was originally designed to nurture and educate for free.

"The new 'Sesame Street' isn't for every child," Gizmodo reported, calling the new show a "Yuppie nightmare." "Now, the beloved show is only for people who can afford to have HBO."

But accessibility isn't the only concern critics had as the show kicked off its 46th season in January on its new channel. Many are concerned that "Sesame Street" has been overly sanitized, reflecting a more upscale view of everyday life that risks alienating lower-income children. New York Times TV critic James Poniewozik bemoaned many of the changes while applauding the show's original grit.

"It was free-range kids TV, experimental, rough and for all its deserved acclaim far removed from later generations of educational TV that was sanitized for our protection," Poniewozik wrote in a review. "This show, which once taught them to find wonder amid the grime, now promises kids that they can uncover dirt in a sanitary, upscaled paradise."

The new show features Oscar the Grouch splitting his time between trash can, compost bin and recycling container. Elmo and Grover have both upgraded from shabby apartments to brownstones, while Abby Caddaby tends a community garden in what the New York Times' Emily Steel dubbed "a Williamsburg (Brooklyn)-like renovation."

Time will tell if this show, once a neighborhood anyone could visit, will soon better resemble a gated community.

"Like the newest digital tablet, the latest 'Sesame Street' isnt an essential," Poniewozik wrote. "But its nice, if your parents happen to have the money."
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.