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What are the 12 most fun cities in the country? Find out
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View of the Ohio River and Cincinnati skyline. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Sep 22, 2016, 1:03 PM
The United States can be a pretty fun place, if you know where to look.

Thankfully for those seeking fun, a recent survey from WalletHub, a budgeting and financial responsibility website, just outlined the most fun cities in the nation based on more than 51 metrics, including the cost of going to the movies, how many fitness clubs there are and where the best places are to play outdoor sports.

Everyone likes to have fun. But we all prefer our personal brand of a good time, according to WalletHub. Some of us like going to bars and clubs, trying new restaurants, watching movies or playing outdoor sports. Others enjoy riding roller coasters, gambling, or catching and training Pokmon.

According to WalletHub, Las Vegas tops the list, mostly because WalletHub gave it the highest ranking in the nightlife and parties category. Orlando and Miami are right behind, with New Orleans and Salt Lake City rounding out the top five.

California and Texas have a bulk of the fun cities, along with Northeastern metropolises like New York City and Philadelphia. The Midwest and Intermountain West also have some fun cultures, like in St. Louis, Denver and Salt Lake City.

Heres a look at the top 12 cities.

1. Las Vegas

You cant really beat the Las Vegas Strip and its buffets, can you?

2. Orlando, Florida

Orlandos also home to the Walt Disney World resort, or the happiest place on Earth.

3. Miami

Like Las Vegas, Miami boasts a hot nightlife with a vibrant and diverse culture.

4. New Orleans

David Pearlman, an associate professor at the University of New Orleans, told WalletHub that his city benefits from Mardi Gras and Pokemon Go, of all things.

Interestingly, the Pokmon Pikachu appeared on the very street that I live on in New Orleans so I got to see firsthand the droves of people that came to take pictures with the sculpture. Parking was pretty tight, but I believe that they could have set up a temporary attraction (100-feet from a public park) with selfie stations, food trucks, and a few tents with the local businesses (Prytania, St. Charles, and Magazine St.), he said.

5. Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is not only one of the most artsy cities, but it also includes a number of recreational activities for family, like hiking, professional sports and outdoor malls.

6. Cincinnati

Cincinnati has the most park playgrounds per capita, tied with Madison, Wisconsin, according to WalletHub.

7. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

This vacation spot also boasts a city strip, good for retirees or spring break vacationers.

8. St. Louis

This Midwestern city has the famous Gateway Arch, a slew of professional sports teams and a busy nightlife.

9. Atlanta

Atlanta has enough fun spots for all. The city is tied for first in most restaurants per capita and for most fitness centers per capita, according to WalletHub. So you can eat great and keep off the weight.

10. Scottsdale, Arizona

If you need a place to relax, Scottsdale may be the place as it has the third most acres of parkland per capita, according to Wallethub.

11. Tampa, Florida

Time to hit the Ferris wheel. Tampa has the fourth most amount of festivals per capita, according to Wallethub.

12. Portland, Oregon

Colleen Johnson, professor at Eastern Oregon University, told WalletHub that Portland and her state in general offer a lot of outdoor activities for families.
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.