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You can now register to vote using Snapchat and texts
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Unsure of how to register to vote? Head over to your Snapchat or texting app to find the easier ways to register for the upcoming election. - photo by Herb Scribner
The presidential election is less than 50 days away, but voting begins early in some states. North Carolina, for example, will begin its early voting on Oct. 20, giving all presidential candidates a chance to gain some early traction in the 2016 race.

With the election right around the corner and the presidential debates, which will pit Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton against GOP nominee Donald Trump, scheduled to start Monday its important that Americans know where and how they can register to vote in the upcoming election.

Luckily, social media has created a slew of new ways for citizens to start the registration process. This should especially help out millennials, who have proven to be an influential voting group, even though only 46 percent of people in that age group voted in 2012, according to the Pew Research Center.

This low voter turnout may be why celebrities and organizations have worked to inspire the younger voters to get out to the polls. Director Joss Whedon recently created a new video full of celebrities who encourage young voters to get out and Save the Day during the election, Quartz reported. We've decided not to link to the video because of is mature language.

But that video is far from the only way young Americans are getting pushed to vote. Say goodbye to snail mail and hello to these new ways to registering.

Snapchat

Its no doubt 2016 is the Snapchat election now. Snapchat and Democracy Works, a nonprofit organization that encourages voter registration, are working together to help millennials and young Americans register through the storytelling app, according to Mashable.

To do so, Snapchat users who are 18 years old or older can see ads that play during Snapchat Stories and the Discover feature that will show users a link to a TurboVote-inspired website. Its on this page where the Snapchat users can register.

"Our country's democracy thrives on participation. But you can't participate unless you register to vote. We hope this effort amplifies our community's voice come November," a Snapchat spokesperson told Mashable.

Texting

Slide into your own DMs and register using HelloVote, a new chat bot that will assist you in registering for the upcoming election. As its website explains, all you have to do is go to the bots main website and enter in your phone number or text HELLO to 384-387 and a HelloVote chatbot will immediately start helping you fill out the voter registration form. Theres also an option to engage with this bot using Facebook Messenger.

The text conversation you have with the bot will automatically fill out state online forms. In some states, the bot will email you the forms you need to complete. HelloVote will also send you registration websites, if your state requires them.

We believe voting should be as easy and accessible as possible, the website explained. HelloVote makes the process of registering to vote as easy as possible, by removing all the barriers. It's fast. It's 100 percent nonpartisan. You don't need a printer. You don't need a computer. You don't need stamps for mailing things. You don't even need a smartphone - any cellphone will work! With so much at stake in the upcoming election, it's crucial that every eligible voter shows up and casts their ballot in November.

Online

Figuring out how to vote early or otherwise online has never been easier. Just head over to vote.usa.gov and enter in your information to find out if youre eligible to vote and what processes you have to go through to register.
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.