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Family activity of the week: Get an Advent calendar
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It's less than 25 days until Christmas, and it's time to count down the days with an Advent calendar. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Dec 1, 2015, 3:29 PM
Were about to be in the thick of the holiday season. Hanukkah starts Dec. 6 and Christmas is less than 25 days away.

Many families are kicking off the season with Advent, a traditionally Christian celebration of the coming of Christ, which began this past Sunday and lasts until Christmas Eve.

Families celebrate the holiday every year mostly through purchasing Advent calendars which are traditionally boxed calendars with an openable flap that hides a piece of chocolate or candy for children to mark the days until Christmas.

The monthlong celebration has some religious background to it, as its seen mostly as a time to celebrate Christs birthday and the goodness that came through Jesus Christ.

Relatively few Americans, including many Christians, understand what Advent is really about, Eric Metaxas wrote for Break Point. Heres a hint, its more than just a countdown to Christmas. For nearly two millennia, Advent has been the season in which Christians reflect on the bookends of Gods redemptive acts in Christ: His Incarnation and His coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead.

But Advent isnt just a holiday for the religious to countdown the days to Jesus birth. Many use it as a way to countdown the days until Christmas and get children excited for Santas arrival. In fact, 89 percent of British people use non-Christian Advent calendars to do so.

These sort of calendars often give children toys and pieces of candy every day of the month.

Families can find Advent calendars in their local grocery and department stores, as well as Amazon, which lists plenty of calendars for low prices. Many of these have religious backgrounds, like of the Nativity scene, with them, while others promote mainly the Christmas season.

Twitter is also a great source of Advent calendar ideas, including ones for pets, makeup enthusiasts and DIYers.

Pinterest also has a number of DIY Advent calendars for crafty families.

And this year, families can get into the Advent calendar spirit through apps. PC Advisors called the Christmas Countdown Elf Story (available for Android) the best Christmas countdown app this year, since its a game made for children that aims to get them excited for the coming holiday.

Another app, called Advent 2015, offers a new mini game every day for users until the end of the month, according to PC Advisors.

Similarly, the app 2015 Xmas Music sends users a new holiday tune every day, resulting in an unlocked Christmas day playlist upon reaching the end of the calendar.
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.