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Half of Ph.D. students are depressed, new study says
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In fact, 47 percent of enrolled Ph.D. students admitted feeling depressed, according to a survey from UC Berkeley. The majority of respondents cited gloomy job prospects as the reason for their depression. - photo by Tyler Stahle
While its easy to think that Ph.D. students have it pretty good after all, people with doctoral degrees are likely to earn an average of $3.4 million throughout their professional life recent research indicates that Ph.D. students view their own futures with a bleak eye.

In fact, 47 percent of enrolled Ph.D. students admitted feeling depressed, according to a survey from UC Berkeley. The majority of respondents cited gloomy job prospects as the reason for their depression. The study also found that 37 percent of masters degree students claimed depression.

The survey, which is part of UC Berkeleys Graduate Student Happiness and Well-Being Report, published once each decade, could spark a wider discussion on the value of graduate education in America, according to CNN Money.

Although the national unemployment rate for persons with a Ph.D. is 2.1 percent, according to the National Science Foundation, significantly lower than the national unemployment rate of 5.5 percent, todays post-graduate students are pessimistic about their chances for good work in the future.

The largest source of anxiety for me is my job outlook, said one anonymous respondent. It is tremendously uncertain and thus fear-inducing.

The value of a post-graduate education has been widely debated, especially of late, and many experts cite time and money as two of the biggest reasons todays students shouldnt pursue a doctoral degree.

According to CBS News, the average student takes 8.2 years to complete a Ph.D. program, and is 33 years old by the time that diploma is earned. Those extra years are spent accumulating debt, while other Americans with bachelors degrees are already well into their vocation.

Speaking of debt, nearly 40 percent of Ph.D. students borrow money to pay for school, and the average graduate owes a whopping $37,000 on average once school is finished.

While a doctorate certainly isnt for everyone, there is convincing evidence that a four-year college degree has never been more important, reported the Deseret News Nationals JJ Feinauer.

According to statistics from the Economic Policy Institute, the pay gap between those whove graduated from college and those who havent has never been greater. In fact, Americans with a bachelors degree make 98 percent more per hour than people who havent finished college.

Yes, college is worth it, and its not even close, wrote New York Times columnist David Leonhardt in 2014. For all the struggles that many young college graduates face, a four-year degree has probably never been more valuable.
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.