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Have You Seen This? Musical ping-pong master
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Just because youre serious about your sport doesnt mean you have to take your sport seriously. - photo by Martha Ostergar
Martha Ostergar
KSL.com
Published: Dec 20, 2017, 3:49 AM
THE TABLE Mastering a sport or skill is no joke, but that doesnt mean you cant make it into a joke.

In fact, I would argue that the most compelling sports figures are those who, at the end of the day, dont take their sport or themselves too seriously. Sure they train hard and set all sorts of ambitious goals, but they also like to make fun of themselves or sport just a little bit.

Think of all the athletes whove hosted Saturday Night Live or appeared in a SportsCenter commercial.

Now, I know that some people wouldnt even call ping-pong a sport, and more people might even feel that ping-pong is inherently funny. Especially with the seemingly over-the-top stances, swings and concentration. But thats not why were here today.

Were here today to enjoy a few laughs with and be amazed by ping-pong mater Takkyuu Geinin. In the video, Takkyuu uses all sorts of different objects to get a unique-sounding ball hit. By itself, thats perhaps mildly entertaining. But Takkyuu is a master, so of course he takes it above and beyond.

With every hit, Takkyuu also knocks down a small pin placed on a corner on the opposite side of the table. From frying pans and wine glasses to maracas and Whoopee Cushions, the pin comes down with a well-aimed ping-pong ball every time.

When you think about all the different weights, sizes and textures of each different object, you start to realize how freakish and amazing his mastery of the sport really is.

And if thats not enough to entertain you, he also yells funny things in the video. Theres something for everyone.
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.