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Disneys new Star Wars films already earned more than $4 billion. Here's why that's a big deal
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Kelly Marie Tran is Rose and John Boyega is Finn in THE LAST JEDI. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News special workflow
Published: Dec 30, 2017, 7:29 AM
Disneys decision to buy Lucasfilm doesnt look so silly now.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi just eclipsed the $940 million mark in sales at the worldwide box office, bringing Disneys total gross earnings from the new Star Wars films over $4 billion, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Why is that significant? In 2012, Disney paid Lucasfilm $4 billion for the Star Wars franchise. This means Disney has earned more money from its Star Wars films ticket sales than it cost to buy Lucasfilm.

Heres a breakdown of how much the new Star Wars films have earned at the box office:

  • The Force Awakens (2015): $2.068 billion
  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016): $1.056 billion
  • The Last Jedi (2017): $940 million
Last Jedi wont premiere in China until Jan. 6, 2018, meaning more earnings are likely on the way, according to Uproxx.

Of course, the $4 billion earned is gross income and doesnt account for the budgets used to make the movies. "The Force Awakens," for example, cost $245 million to make.

At the same time, the earnings dont account for revenue streams such as merchandise or theme park attractions, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Five years, three films, four billion dollars. You could definitely say the Force is with Disney, Ryan Harkness wrote for Uproxx.

Disneys purchase of Lucasfilm came after its acquisition of Marvel Entertainment in 2009 and its purchase of Pixar in 2006.

More recently, Disney completed a $52.4 billion deal for 21st Century Fox, which includes the 20th Century Fox film and television studios. This will bring a wealth of franchises and classic films over to the Disney brand.
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.