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Man delivers son at scenic rest stop
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For one Canadian couple, a popular scenic rest stop turned into the setting for the dramatic birth of their son. - photo by Jessica Ivins
Jessica Ivins
KSL.com
Published: Oct 25, 2015, 10:29 AM
HUDSONS HOPE, B.C. For one Canadian couple, a popular scenic rest stop turned into the setting for the dramatic birth of their son.

Tyler Olsen was rushing his laboring partner, Caitlin Vince, to the hospital earlier this month. The couple lives in a remote part of British Columbia with no hospital, and home births are outlawed. The route to the nearest medical facility includes a remote highway through the Peace River valley.

Olsen and Vince were only halfway there when they realized they had run out of time.

I knew we werent gonna make it, Vince told CBC News.

Vinces contractions grew stronger, and Olsen said he barely had enough time to get her to the ground before the baby began to crown. With the help of 911 operators and a couple of tourists whod stop to admire the scenery, Olsen delivered his baby boy in the gravel, CBC reports.

But the drama didnt end there.

The baby was born en caul meaning he was still encased in the amniotic sac when he came out. Olsen used his pocket knife to free the baby from the sac.

It was amazing, Vince told CBC.

Baby and mother kept warm in a sleeping bag while they waited for paramedics to arrive. With the help of EMTs, Olsen was able to cut the umbilical cord before Vince and the baby were taken to the hospital.

The baby Augustus Olsen weighed in at 8 pounds 2 ounces and was declared perfectly healthy. His parents said theyll always cherish the beauty of the rest stop where they first met their son.

Its just the most special, beautiful spot, Vince said. Hes a fantastic baby.
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.