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CDC is planning an event to teach you how to survive a nuclear bomb
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will hold a public briefing on Jan. 16 to discuss how to survive a nuclear bomb blast. - photo by Herb Scribner
Mark your calendars for Jan. 16. Thats the day you can learn how to survive a nuclear blast.

The public briefing will be by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

While a nuclear detonation is unlikely, it would have devastating results and there would be limited time to take critical protection steps, a CDC statement confirming the event reads. Despite the fear surrounding such an event, planning and preparation can lessen deaths and illness.

CDC said its important to plan for a nuclear attack since planning and preparation can help save lives.

For instance, most people dont realize that sheltering in place for at least 24 hours is crucial to saving lives and reducing exposure to radiation. While federal, state, and local agencies will lead the immediate response efforts, public health will play a key role in responding, according to the CDC.

Social media went ablaze with reaction to the CDC statement.



















CDC did not reference where a nuclear threat could come from. There has been growing tension between North Korea and the United States over the Asian country's testing of missiles that could carry a nuclear warhead. Leaders of the two countries boasted about their nuclear powers last week, including this tweet by President Donald Trump.







Anyone interested in learning about nuclear bomb safety can read a preparedness guide on CDCs website. The guide offers three suggestion on how to protect yourself: go inside, stay inside and stay tuned for details on your local news station.

The CDC guide says people can be hurt by the blast from nuclear fallout (radioactive material that falls from the sky after a nuclear blast), radiation sickness and contaminated water and food.

Experts have theorized about a potential nuclear attack on the U.S. for months, the Deseret News reported. Stevens Institute of Technology professor Alex Wellerstein created an interactive tool that outlined how many people would die in each city if there was a nuclear blast.
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.