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Researchers say theyve found the oldest known extract from Homers Odyssey
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This undated handout photo provided by the Greek Culture Ministry on Tuesday, July 10, 2018 shows a slab inscribed with 13 verses from the Odyssey's Book 14 that was found near the Olympia sanctuary, dating to the Roman period, possibly before the 3rd century. Greece's Culture Ministry says the inscription unearthed at the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games could be the oldest written excerpt ever discovered of Homer's epic poem, the Odyssey. (Greek Culture Ministry via AP) - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Jul 13, 2018, 6:49 AM
Archaeologists in Greece may have just discovered the oldest known extract of Homers epic poem The Odyssey.

The Greek and German research team found a passage from the epic poem on a clay plaque in Ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, near the Temple of Zeus, according to Reuters.

Researchers believe the plaque includes 13 verses from Book 14 of the poem in which the main character, Odysseus, addresses his friend Eumaeus.

The researchers said the plaque comes from around the Roman era, roughly around the third century A.D.

According to Quartz, scholars believed Homer wrote the poem somewhere between 725 and 675 B.C.

The poem which tells the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, who spends 10 years trying to get home after participating in the fall of the kingdom of Troy, according to the BBC was first printed in 1488 in Florence, Italy.

The plaque is a great archaeological, epigraphic, literary and historical exhibit, the Greek culture ministry said (link in Greek).

If this preliminary dating is confirmed, the ministry said, then this clay tablet will maybe hold the oldest written excerpt of Homers volumes that have ever come to light, and constitutes, apart from its uniqueness, one great archaeological, literary, and historical artifact.
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.