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Scientists have developed melt-resistant ice cream; heres how it happened
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A photo of Aggie Ice Cream. - photo by Herb Scribner
Scientists have recently concocted a type of ice cream that is slow to melt, thanks to a unique product: banana plant waste, according to a new study.

Columbian researchers Robin Zuluaga Gallego and Jorge A. Velsquez Cock joined scientists from the University of Guelph in Canada to discover what would happen if they added fibers from banana plant waste to an ice cream recipe.

The researchers took cellulose nanofibrils, which are thinner than a human hair and come from banana waste, and grounded them up into an ice cream mix.

Using some analytical tools, the researchers found that when you mix banana fibers into the ice cream mix, the delicious snack will melt slower than normal.

And the fibers may replace the fats in ice cream that give the snack its texture.

In fact, the fibers "improved the creaminess and texture of the product," according to the press release on the study.

Even better, the shelf life of the product was longer and the ice creams creaminess and texture wasnt worsened, according to StudyFinds.org.

In particular, the fibers could lead to the development of a thicker and more palatable dessert, which would take longer to melt, according to the press release. As a result, this would allow for a more relaxing and enjoyable experience with the food, especially in warm weather.

The average American consumes at least 23 pounds of ice cream every year, according to the International Dairy Foods Association.

In 2017, Japanese scientists accidentally discovered a way to stop ice cream from melting, according to Conde Nast Traveler. The researchers asked a chef to see if he could create a dessert using polyphenol liquid, which is extracted from strawberries, because they wanted to help strawberry farmers in Japan who were suffering from dead crops after a 2011 earthquake.

The chef told scientists at the time that "dairy cream solidified instantly when strawberry polyphenol was added," according to Conde Nast.

"Polyphenol liquid has properties to make it difficult for water and oil to separate so that a popsicle containing it will be able to retain the original shape of the cream for a longer time than usual and be hard to melt," he told The Asahi Shimbun.

Using the same compound, Tomihisa Ota, professor emeritus of pharmacy at Kanazawa University, eventually developed non-melting popsicles using the compound, The Asahi Shimbun reported.

The popsicles went on sale in Kanazawa, Osaka and Tokyo last year.

Kanazawa Ice, which developed the popsicles, used the same method to develop a bear-shaped ice cream popsicle that didnt melt even after spending three hours at room temperature. The ice cream still contained its taste and shape.

Foodstagrammers, this one's for you: You can now take your time searching for the perfect shot and still enjoy every last drop of your Kanazawa Ice, according to Conde Nast.

The same ice cream attracted headlines in January after it first went on sale since it could be lit on fire and still not melt.
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.