By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Mark Hamill just kicked off the countdown for Star Wars: Episode IX
2c493b2fbe78392b8f60bc0b9a78773974907b87f97406a84330912b69d63872
Star Wars: The Last Jedi Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) Photo: John Wilson 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Jul 8, 2018, 8:49 AM
The countdown to Star Wars: Episode IX has begun.

Some fans have already begun counting down for the new film. But Mark Hamill, who plays the legendary Jedi Luke Skywalker, marked the official beginning of the countdown to the new film in a tweet this week.

Hamill tweeted a photo that marked 532 days until the ninth Star Wars film. He specifically posted the photo with 532 days, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 58 seconds to go.

Whos counting? he tweeted. #9WillBeFineAllInGoodTime.

Hamills tweeted photo is a screenshot from the website HowManyDaysUntilStarWars.com that keeps track of the time before the new film.

Fans reacted to Hamills tweet with positivity and negativity, as most things go these days, according to CNET.

Fans praised Hamill for celebrating the new film.













Others, though, explained they hope to see a better movie than The Last Jedi.













Hype for Episode IX began the day The Last Jedi unveiled its title. As the Deseret News reported, users took to Twitter to theorize about the title for the ninth film in the Skywalker saga.



















J.J. Abrams, who will direct the new Star Wars film, told Stephen Colbert on The Late Show that the films script is finished. He said shooting begins in July.

We have a script, which is a big deal for me, said Abrams.

Few plot details are known about the new film. Rumors suggest Billy Dee Williams will return to play Lando Calrissian given the positive reaction the character received in the recent Solo spinoff film.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
93cbd7a5475cccd1cee701424125d3abaa9b4beaa58d3663208f656cbbbd7661
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.