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Christmas trees are rare and expensive this year. Heres the best time to buy
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A Christmas tree cut and ready to move at a tree farm - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
News Division
Published: Nov 25, 2017, 6:39 PM
Good luck trying to buy a Christmas tree this year.

Multiple reports from across the country indicate that there will be a shortage of Christmas trees this year. And that might lead to higher prices.

Indeed, droughts in North Carolina, as well as wildfires in Oregon, have thinned out the amount of Christmas trees available this year, according to GWDForestry.

For example, the Charlotte Observer reported theyve received fewer trees this year and sellers are running out before Christmas.

And, according to WSMV-TV in Nashville, theres another reason for the shortage: Christmas trees sold today were planted 10 years ago. But 10 years ago, the economic recession made families less interested in buying Christmas trees.

Now that the economy has bounced back and more people plan to buy Christmas trees again, we're left with a high demand for trees, and a low supply meaning tree prices are expected to go up, according to WSMV-TV.

Still, if you can buy a Christmas tree, you might want to wait until it's closer to the holiday. Quartz recently reported on new Square data that found youll pay less money for trees the closer it gets Christmas.

Prices for Christmas trees are often at their high around Black Friday (hovering around $66). Christmas Eve reveals the lowest price ($30).

Tree prices are more expensive earlier in the season because shoppers buy the better trees earlier, leaving lesser trees waiting for late shoppers.

Buying a tree two weeks earlier also means two extra weeks of twinkling Christmas lights and the aroma of pine in your living room, according to Quartz. So a trees price isnt just a reflection of quality, but also of a premium placed on the Christmas spirit that comes with it.
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.