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Have You Seen This? Even wild turkeys cant stop the mail
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The video is almost adorable as this carrier expertly uses a big pole to effectively block the turkeys from getting too close, but Im fairly sure the turkeys arent looking for companionable cuddles, theyre looking to peck the carriers legs into bloody submission. - photo by Martha Ostergar
Martha Ostergar
KSL.com
Published: Dec 20, 2015, 2:59 PM
GOBBLE GOBBLE ROAD Im not a nature expert, but I do know that protecting territory is many animals first priority, including many birds.

I witnessed it firsthand this summer as I watched one particularly entitled hummingbird divebomb three other hummingbirds trying to use the same feeder. And if you want a little more anecdotal proof, watch this Australian bike through magpie territory.

Even the humble yet noble turkey will fiercely guard its territory. Just ask this mailman from Falmouth, Massachusetts, who encounters a territorial flock of five turkeys every day on his mail route. (Or listen to this terrifying story from This American Life of a turkey terrorizing a small town on Marthas Vineyard in 2008.)

The video is almost adorable as this carrier expertly uses a big pole to effectively block the turkeys from getting too close, but Im fairly sure the turkeys arent looking for companionable cuddles, theyre looking to peck the carriers legs into bloody submission. (Hyperbole added for effect.)

Even though the USPS creed is not official, I think its safe to say that this brave carrier can now tout a modified version as his personal creed: "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor wild turkeys stays this courier from the swift completion of his appointed rounds."
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.