By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Cold snap draws comparisons to Mars
4aa0484883c657515e1f3c92bc88c90666e978d8dc6e6656a067754e3ed44a9d
Samantha Dement-Graham shovels her neighbor's sidewalk on University Avenue in Dubuque, Iowa, on Dec. 29, 2017. Cold arctic air dipping further south than usual prompted Omaha, Nebraska, officials to cancel a New Year's Eve fireworks show as a three-day deep freeze chills celebrations in Iowa and Nebraska. The National Weather Service is warning of hazardous weather conditions as a deep freeze sets in with expected temperatures in some locations dipping near records not seen in more than 130 years. (Eileen Meslar/Telegraph Herald via AP) - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News special workflow
Published: Jan 3, 2018, 8:59 AM
A deadly deep freeze has washed over areas of the United States. Temperatures are so low that theyve drawn comparisons to the planet Mars.

The year 2017 came to an end with a cold snap gripping most of the United States, breaking century-old records and causing several deaths. The cold temperatures covered areas from south Texas, Montana, New England, Alabama and Georgia, ABC News reported.

Temperatures reached below zero in multiple places.

The cold snap has led to at least eight deaths, including a 27-year-old woman who died from exposure, according to ABC News.

These temperatures are other-worldly, according to The Atlantic.

The arctic freeze over the United States this week is producing the kind of frigid temperatures typical for the red planet, The Atlantic reported.

In fact, temperatures in areas of the United States are actually colder than it is on Mars, The Atlantic wrote.

According to weather data from the Curiosity rover on Mars, temperatures peaked on the red planet at minus 9 degrees Fahrenheit back on Dec. 20, as The Atlantic reported. The cold season has just begun on Mars.

Michael Mischna, a research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, said the comparison is accurate.

But, he said, Mars atmosphere is thinner than Earths, which means temperatures would feel different on the two planets, even if the data says theyre the same.

If you were to jump into a pool that was 70 degrees, it would feel a lot colder to your body than standing in air at 70 degrees, and thats because the water is able to suck the heat out of your body, Mischna said, suggesting that it wouldn't feel as cold on Mars.

Minus 100 degrees on Mars might only feel like minus 30, he added.

The Washington Post reported that its close to minus 112 degrees on Mars at night.

People are having fun with the colder temperatures, though. For example, weather observer Adam Gill posted a video of boiling water being released in minus 31-degree weather, which had breathtaking results.

The National Weather Service said the cold weather will end after the first week of 2018.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
93cbd7a5475cccd1cee701424125d3abaa9b4beaa58d3663208f656cbbbd7661
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.