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New shows and movies to stream in September
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Here's a look at some shows and movies to stream this September for the whole family. - photo by Chandra Johnson
Chandra Johnson
Deseret News
Published: Sep 20, 2016, 1:01 PM
As fall heats up with a fresh crop of TV premieres and publishing and film studios start to put out some of the year's best work for awards season, streaming options have consequentially thinned a little.

But here are 10 shows and movies streaming this month for the whole family.

1. Roman Holiday (1953)

Amazon Prime

The quintessential romantic comedy starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck reminds viewers why this genre was once a beloved movie tradition rather than a tired trope. Hepburn plays a young European aristocrat who takes a powder from palace life to see how the other half lives while on tour in Italy. She befriends a reporter played by Peck, who pretends not to know her identity in the hopes of getting a scoop and falls in love with her instead.

2. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (2015)

Netflix

This BBC miniseries is an adaptation of Susanna Clarke's 2004 novel about two men who bring magic back to 19th-century England. Strange and Norrell play off of each other like Holmes and Watson, except their differences lie in the use and importance of magic in British history at the height of the Napoleonic wars. As England intensifies its offensive against France, Strange and Norrell become adversaries in how magic may save their society or destroy it.

3. Zootopia (2016)

Netflix

A dedicated rookie rabbit cop and a fox con artist become unlikely friends in this Disney Animation Studios release from earlier this year. This timely feature boasts the strength in recognizing and celebrating the differences in others.

4. Galavant (2015)

Netflix

Families looking for something a little different should turn on this musical, comedic gem recently cancelled after its second season on ABC. Original music accompanies the quest of the knight Galavant to rescue is wife from the clutches of evil King Richard, righting wrongs in the kingdom along the way.

5. Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)

Amazon Prime

This charming and gorgeous documentary follows the career and rise of 85-year-old Japanese sushi chef Jiro Ono from his humble beginnings to a 3-star Michelin chef. Through the story of Jiro and his family, viewers get a rare glimpse at his restaurant, a 10-seat intimate corner of a Tokyo train station called Sukibayashi and a new appreciation for the art of sushi making.

6. Joyful Noise (2012)

Netflix

In small-town Georgia, the death of a church choir director leads to a good-natured rivalry between his widow (played by Dolly Parton) and the new choir director (Queen Latifah) bent on a winning the national Joyful Noise competition for the church choir. The reviews for this family friendly flick were highly mixed, but the music and watching the two huge musical personalities of Parton and Latifah square off make it a fun family watch.

7. Hoot (2006)

Netflix

A middle-school underdog struggling to adjust to a new life and new school in Florida finds a purpose and makes new friends while trying to save a family of burrowing owls from a construction site. This movie is adapted from the Carl Hiaasen novel of the same name.

8. Call the Midwife, Season 5

Netflix

This popular BBC series chronicles the work of a group of Anglican nuns and midwives in mid-century London's East End. Through a revolving cast of characters and an ever-changing set of historical circumstances, the story follows the growth and development of the community through the formation of its families and the challenges wrought from changing perspectives on what it means to raise children.

9. Apollo 13 (1995)

Amazon Prime

This 1995 hit starring Tom Hanks as NASA astronaut Jim Lovell details the real-life struggle of three American astronauts trying to make it back to Earth safely after a mission to the moon goes awry in April of 1970. Destined to be a classic thanks to Hanks' trademark line, "Houston, we have a problem," this film is inspiring and also educational for children to see.

10. Man on Wire (2008)

Amazon Prime

This 2008 Oscar-winning documentary details the story of Frenchman Philippe Petit's high-wire performance between the World Trade Center twin towers in 1974. In an unauthorized, controversial act, Petit strung a 450-pound cable between the towers, where he performed for about 45 minutes, teetering more than 1,300 feet in the air. Released in the wake of 9/11, director James Marsh said the film was intended as a love letter to New York City in the aftermath of the attack that toppled the towers.
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.