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Everyone is freaking out about snow in Texas
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Snowflakes fell in several areas of southern Texas on Thursday, including major cities San Antonio, Houston and Austin. - photo by Herb Scribner
They say everything's bigger in Texas. But does that apply to its snowflakes?

We may soon learn the answer, as snowflakes fell in several areas of southern Texas on Thursday, including the cities of San Antonio and Austin.

Snow often falls in the northern areas of Texas, but rarely in the south.

Houston similarly woke up to snow, according to The Houston Chronicle. Forecasters said the ground is still warm, so its unlikely to stick around for too long.

"The problem is that everything is still so warm, so that anything that falls isn't likely to be measurable," said Melissa Huffman with the National Weather Service to the Chronicle. "You could see some minor accumulations on some grassy surfaces, but there would be a better chance southwest of Houston."

And while snow isnt common in Houston, the city has been known to take on the appearance of a winter wonderland from time to time, according to KTRK-TV.

Houston Texans star J.J. Watt made headlines for his social media post of the snow.

The snow isnt finished falling yet. According to CNN, the snowstorm is moving toward both Corpus Christi and Brownsville. About 2 to 3 inches of snow are expected in these areas.

To put that in perspective: Corpus Christi has only seen snow in eight days since 1948. The last snowfall came in 2004, when the city received 2.3 inches, according to CNN.

Unconventional weather appears to be the new norm. People freaked out last week when the island Hawaii became a winter wonderland. Summits of the volcanoes Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa received an early coat of snow, according to the Deseret News.

The snowfall contradicted typical beliefs that snow doesnt fall in the Pacific island paradise. But the Huffington Post dispelled that idea, reporting that snow in Hawaii is common. In fact, Hawaii received more snow in one week earlier this year than Denver and Chicago received in the first two months of the year.
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
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.