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Video shows bugling elk approach shoppers in Colorado
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You may seem some strange things at your local mall, but you certainly don't expect to come face-to-face with a bugling elk. Shoppers in Colorado experienced such an event recently, and the video footage has to be seen to be believed. - photo by Grant Olsen
Grant Olsen
KSL.com
Published: Oct 23, 2016, 8:29 AM
ESTES PARK, Colorado As temperatures cool and the holiday season approaches, its not unusual for shopping malls to get more crowded. One thing you dont expect to see, however, is a massive bull elk checking out the local stores.

Just such a scene unfolded in Colorado earlier this month and the resulting footage was shared on Facebook. The video, posted by a user named John Burns, shows a bull elk casually escorting a group of females through a strip mall.

According to reports, the bizarre incident occurred in Estes Park, a town in northern Colorado that gets lots of wildlife visitors due to its proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park. In fact, elk are such a fixture in the area that the town hosts an annual Elk Fest.

But even longtime residents mustve been amused as the bull strutted past a home interiors store and then turned to stare directly at stunned shoppers. The bull then cruised past a diner, letting out a loud bugle for his female friends.

While this video shows the entertaining side of elk encounters, they can easily turn dangerous. Last year, a tourist in Estes Park was gored by a bull after getting recklessly close to the animal.

The incident served as a reminder that while elk may appear docile, they should never be approached.

"We've had incidents, honestly, where people have tried to put their kids on elks backs to take pictures, pet them, selfies very dangerous things to do," said Eric Rose of the Estes Park Police Department.
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.