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Earthquake in Mexico 'strongest in a century'
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The 8.1-magnitude quake, which reached from Guatemala City to Mexico City, registered on the southern coast of the country. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
News Division
Published: Sep 10, 2017, 2:09 PM
The strongest earthquake to strike Mexico in a decade left at least 29 people dead overnight, according to CNN.

The 8.1-magnitude quake, which reached from Guatemala City to Mexico City, registered on the southern coast of the country.

"It's a big quake. It's about 70 miles offshore, but it's not an unheard of quake," Randy Baldwin, a geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center, told NBC News.

Mexican President Enrique Pea Nieto said the earthquake was the strongest in a century, according to CNN.

The earthquake directly affected the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca. CNN reported that 23 people died in Oaxaca, two in Chiapas and two more in Tabasco.

Heres a quick rundown of what you need to know:

Any aftershocks?: Yes. According to the Los Angeles Times, there were at least 20 aftershocks of 4.0 magnitude or higher after the initial quake. Nieto said one aftershock of 7.2 magnitude also occurred.

And theres a tsunami warning: According to CBS News, the quake created tsunami waves off the coast, sending people into a panic on the Mexican streets. The National Weather Service confirmed this report, saying the waves reached a height of 3.3 feet.

Whats the damage?: Business buildings and homes shook violently because of the quake, according to the Associated Press. "There is damage to hospitals that have lost energy," Chiapas Gov. Manuel Velasco said, according to the AP. "Homes, schools and hospitals have been damaged."

Shaking buildings: BBC shared a video that shows the tremors on camera, rattling a bowling alley in Tuxtla Gutierrez.

More footage: CNN posted a video on Twitter of lamp posts swaying violently because of the earthquake.

Green light flashes: Yahoo News reported that mysterious green and blue flashes lit up the sky outside of Mexico City following the earthquake.

Hurricane nearby: As the earthquake struck, rains for the approaching Hurricane Katia were pouring down on the eastern side of the country, according to CNN.

Mexicos history of earthquakes: Residents of Mexico City often think about earthquakes after one in 1985 killed 5,000 people and destroyed large parts of the city, the LA Times reported.

What about the missionaries?: The LDS Church issued a statement about the earthquake, saying all missionaries are safe and well.
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.