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Expecto equality: Harry Potter and the spell of reduced prejudice
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A new study has found that kids who read Harry Potter books were more likely to not harbor prejudice against the LGBT and immigrant communities. - photo by Sarah Howling, istockphoto.com/WILLSIE
Chandra Johnson
Deseret News National
Updated: Aug 12, 2014, 12:00 PM
Published: Aug 6, 2014, 8:27 PM

A new study published this week in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology claims that kids who read J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series were more likely to have "improved attitudes" about minority groups.

British and Italian elementary students were asked to read the books as part of a focus on prejudice and researchers found that afterward, students who discussed the theme of oppression in the books developed a positive perspective for victims of prejudice.
But is the boy who lived the real reason behind the change? The Pacific Standard praised the study, but also cited its own study from March, which found that reading any kind of literary fiction can help reduce racism "by helping readers identify with characters from diverse backgrounds."

The debate is nothing new — Harry Potter's influence has been under a microscope for years now, culminating with a book out this year by University of Vermont professor Anthony Gierzynski. Titled "Harry Potter and the Millenials," the book makes several arguments, including that reading "Harry Potter" has influenced a generation's political beliefs, perhaps even stoking President Barack Obama's 2008 victory.

"Gierzynski suggests that in the post-Bush era, these kind of tolerance-espousing ideals (promoted in 'Harry Potter') were better represented by the Democratic Party as opposed to the Republicans," Movie Pilot reported.
Of course, the examination of Potter's plight hasn't always been favorable. A plethora of bloggers claim that the series promotes homosexuality and the occult.

Religious leaders from a variety of denominations have denounced the books as dangerous or threatening to Christian values. Even former Pope Benedict said people needed to be enlightened about the "subtle seductions" toward evil he found in the series.
Maybe that's why tolerance and equality play themselves out in the halls of Hogwarts more easily than in real life, Pacific-Standard writer Tom Jacobs postured.

"Perhaps arguments for open-mindedness are most effectively delivered underneath an invisibility cloak," Jacobs wrote.

Email: chjohnson@deseretnews.com
Twitter: ChandraMJohnson
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.