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Video shows fierce battle between monster bull elk
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A new video from Canada shows the stunning power that is unleashed when bull elk square off in battle. - photo by Grant Olsen
Grant Olsen
KSL.com
Published: Sep 15, 2016, 3:51 PM
JASPER, Canada A new video from Alberta shows the stunning power that is unleashed when bull elk battle.

According the videos description, the footage was shot by British Columbia resident Stephen Dana over Labor Day weekend.

Throughout the summer, bull elk rarely fight. Their testosterone is used primarily for growing their antlers. But as the weather cools and their antlers harden, the dominant bulls and younger contenders prepare themselves for battle. These clashes are mainly used to claim mates and assert territory.

The two elk featured in the video appear to be fairly evenly matched. One report suggested that it was a 7x9 bull versus a 7x7 bull. The animals were in no rush to clash. They paraded for some time, sizing each other up like a pair of prizefighters and preparing for the inevitable.

When the bulls finally begin to charge and lock horns, it seems like one of them could easily sustain a puncture wound. Serious injuries can definitely happen during battles like the one shown. In rare cases, the combatants become permanently entangled, which sadly results in starvation.

But in the video shot by Dana, both bulls seem to leave the scrap with their health intact. The winner holds his head high, while the loser is left to sulk off. His pride may be hurt, but its likely that hell be back in the ring before too long.
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.