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Small, smart additions to your home can replace expensive big ones
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After: This home remodel added a 3-foot extension across one wall of a kitchen and dining room. - photo by Annie Schwemmer and Ann Robinson
We have talked about reconfiguring and repurposing existing space to change your home and life without doing a large addition the past few weeks. Sometimes in such a reconfiguration, a homeowner may need to consider small additions to make the space function the way he or she may want.

Small, well-designed additions just adding a few square feet here or there can create sufficient space to change the way a home functions without having to construct a big box addition. Small, thought-out room additions can give exactly what may be needed at a fraction of the cost of a major addition. They also create minimal change in the exterior appearance of a home and dont compromise the existing yard. Small additions are especially effective in homes needing more space in bathrooms, living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens.

Adding bay windows, which is a series of windows that project outward, in living rooms or dining rooms also creates an attractive focal point in the space while increasing the rooms natural light and views to the exterior. Bays also allow for the inclusion of window seats, which are both functional and aesthetic. They can offer additional seating, create a cozy niche adjacent to a larger space, and provide storage space under the seat.

In a kitchen, adding just 2 to 3 feet to one side can give the kitchen enough width to add an island, providing extra counter and seating space in the room.

If you're interested in making a small addition to your home, keep the following design considerations in mind:

It is structurally possible to have a small addition, such as a bay window, cantilever over the existing foundation, eliminating the need to pour a new concrete foundation.

You can "borrow" a few feet from a room or space adjacent to the room you want to enlarge. For example, you can capture the space from a closet to add to a bathroom, which would allow enough space for a new shower or bathtub.

If you have a large roof overhang of 2 to 4 feet, you may be able to tuck a small addition under your existing roof. If you don't have such an overhang, you will need to extend a portion of roof to cover an addition.

Depending on your goals, you may need a large addition, but sometimes you can accomplish your objectives by reconfiguring your existing layout or with smart, well-designed smaller additions. Having an architect assess your house and discuss your needs and wants can help you determine what type of remodel will be required to successfully impact your daily lifestyle. Remember, bigger is definitely not always better.
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.