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Disney survived Hurricane Irma. Can you get your money back?
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For the fifth time in history, Disney shut its doors to prepare for the storm, according to the company. The park closed down on Sunday and Monday, leaving only resorts and hotels open. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
News Division
Published: Sep 17, 2017, 11:39 AM
Hurricane Irma caused a lot of damage across Florida this weekend, but the happiest place on Earth wasnt destroyed.

Irma a once-Category 5 storm that has now been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone wrecked havoc across the entire state of Florida over the weekend, causing major flooding in the northern city of Jacksonville and widespread panic throughout the state, according to ABC News.

For the fifth time in history, Disney shut its doors to prepare for the storm, according to the company. The park closed down on Sunday and Monday, leaving only resorts and hotels open.

"We hope to resume normal operations on Tuesday, Sept. 12. We will provide regular updates to our guests on all operational changes," the statement from Disney reads.

  • Disney reopened its doors at 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday. The Disney Springs shopping, dining and entertainment area also reopened, but at 10 a.m.
  • Hurricane Irma briefly flirted with Orlando. The storm made landfall and dropped to a Category 1 hurricane, with winds of about 85 mph, when it got close to Disney, according to the National Weather Service.
  • If youre a traveler who avoided Disney because of the storm, you may want to read People magazines explainer on obtaining your refunds. Disneys hurricane policy allows customers to receive money back if the National Hurricane Center declares a warning for the city. It will not reimburse air travel, rented cars or third-party hotel stays.
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.