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Heres what Americans fear most in 2017 (Hint: its not clowns)
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The Chapman University Survey of American Fears Wave 4 reviewed what Americans fear most. A majority of Americans are spooked by the government. - photo by Herb Scribner
A majority of Americans are spooked by the government.

The annual Chapman University Survey of American Fears reviewed what Americans fear most in 2017, and leading the way with 74 percent was the corruption of government officials.

American health care/Trumpcare finished second on the list (55 percent), while pollution of oceans and lakes (53 percent) finished third, pollution of drinking water was fourth (50 percent) and not having enough money finished fifth (also 50 percent).

Other top fears included: high medical bills; a potential third World War; global warming and climate change; North Korea using nuclear weapons; and air pollution.

The survey sampled 1,207 adults from across the United States about 80 different fears, including crime, the government, the environment, personal anxieties and many others. The rankings were based on the percentage of adults who voted items as their top fear.

What is, perhaps, most striking about American fear in 2017 is that environmental fears, including water pollution and drinking water quality, figure more prominently than ever before, according to Chapman University's press release on the survey. Environmental issues never cracked the top ten fears in our previous surveys.

Researcher Edward Day said the study also found that fear is on the rise.

This year we saw some big changes. Fear has really gone up, Day said. Prior to this year, there was only one item where the majority of Americans said they were afraid or very afraid, and this year there were five.

The 2017 list varies from the same research in 2016. Though the top fear (corrupt government) was the same, terrorist attack was No. 2 with 41 percent of the vote.

Not having enough money was third (39.9 percent) and overall "terrorism" finished fourth (38.5 percent).

Day added that people arent as afraid of crime-related events as much as in the past, either.

Now, people fear corruption of the government and the White House, CBS reported.

Our previous lists had more to do with disasters and crime, and that naturally lent itself to the type of messaging (about crime) were doing, researcher Christopher Bader said, according to Smithsonian magazine. The list this year is fundamentally different in the sense that its showing a great fear of some of the things happening in this presidency.

Bader said the survey showed one positive change for culture, though.

Clowns and zombies are both down, he said.

But, he added, "the survey was done before (the movie) 'It' was released.
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.