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The best states in America for balancing work and family
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When looking for a job, most Americans want some sense that their careers won't obstruct their personal lives completely. - photo by JJ Feinauer
In a recent survey of millennial-aged workers, 88 percent responded that "work-life integration" (which is slightly different from work-life balance) was one of the most valued attributes of a job.

In other words, when looking for a job, most Americans want some sense that their careers won't obstruct their personal lives completely. Whether it's having a family, a social life, or even just some free time to relax, Americans desire balance.

What does it take to achieve better balance? According to a new study by Status of Women, state law and local corporate culture are what make all the difference.

According to Status of Women, some of the best indicators for work-life balance are related directly to women's issues such as the gender pay gap, paid leave and accessibility to child care.

To determine which states are most conducive to balancing work and family, Status of Women looked at those indicators. It also looked at available care for the elderly and other dependents.

SOW then ranked each category accordingly, and also assigned each state a grade based on its overall score. It then averaged out the scores for each category to determine a "composite score."

Did your state make the list?
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.