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Have You Seen This? The most difficult places to visit on Earth
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A video released by RealLifeLore on YouTube shows us that the globe is not quite as accessible as it may seem. - photo by Angie Treasure
Angie Treasure
KSL.com
Published: Mar 16, 2017, 1:19 PM


WORLDWIDE We like to think that in the modern era of air travel theres nowhere we cant visit with a semi-painless plane ride, especially if armrest etiquette is observed.

Well, a video released by RealLifeLore on YouTube shows us that the globe is not quite as accessible as it may seem.

In 1914, a map was created that estimated travel times with the presupposed home base of London, England. At that time, most of Europe could be reached in under five days, but more exotic locales like Australia or Asia took a month or so to get to. Now, most travel times from jolly ol England are half a day, with the most being approximately 24 hours.

That is, unless you want to go somewhere really exotic.

Take Pitcairn Island (yeah, Ive never heard of it either), a territory of the United Kingdom smack dab in the middle of the expansive Pacific Ocean. This tropical isle has a population of 49 people, but hey! Theyll give you land if you decide to move there.

The only problem? Theres no airport, so you have to get there by boat. And the boat only leaves every three months. If you timed it all perfectly, you would get there in about two and a half days.

If your favorite ocean is the Indian, you could go to the Kerguele Islands, or the chipper-ly nicknamed Desolation Islands, which are more than 2,000 miles from Madagascar.

If mountains and volcanoes are more your thing, head to Antarctica to visit Mt. Sidley, which hasnt been summited in seven years, and is in such a remote location in Marie Byrd Land that its unclaimed by any sovereign country.

Then, theres a whole list of the worlds most challenging mountains to climb; K2 the second tallest peak in the world has only been summited by 300 people and never in the winter. Annapurna in the Himalayas is even more dangerous and has only been climbed by 191 brave souls.

Be sure to watch the video and learn about all the worlds most remote locations. Which would you rather travel to: A remote island or an untouched mountain peak? Tell us in the comments.
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.