A few weeks ago, a trio of scientists won this year's Nobel Prize in physics for inventing the blue light-emitting diode — a feat that ultimately led to the creation of a new kind of long-lasting, energy-efficient, environmentally friendly white light with limitless applications.

Not least of which is that glow you see emanating from your cellphone.

Some things, though, the scientists didn't see.

In new research, scientists at the University of Pennsylvania say blue light triggers an unexpected battle in your eyeball between a light-sensitive protein called melanopsin, which helps establish the rhythm of our day-night cycle, and blue-light-sensing cells called S-cones, which help control pupil response to bright light.

It turns out that when it comes to pupil response, melanopsin and S-cones behave quite differently when exposed to blue light. The former prompts the pupil of the eye to constrict; the latter signals it to dilate. It's a sort of visual tug of war.

The parsing of blue light response may have clinical implications, according to the researchers, because some conditions, such as seasonal affective disorder, are very likely impacted by the function or dysfunction of melanopsin and S-cones.

Body of Knowledge

On average, it takes 72 seconds for a mature egg to be pushed out of the ovary. Sperm races to its target at an average speed of 8 inches per hour.

Number Cruncher

An order of Buffalo Wild Wings' chili con queso dip with nachos (100 grams) contains 960 calories, 432 from fat. It has 48 grams of total fat, or 74 percent of the recommended total fat intake for a 2,000-calorie daily diet, according to the Calorie Count database.

It also contains 60 milligrams of cholesterol (20 percent), 2,240 milligrams of sodium (93 percent), 100 grams of total carbohydrates (33 percent), 8 grams of dietary fiber, 8 grams of sugar and 28 grams of protein.

Stories for the Waiting Room

Here's one less thing that you need to worry about sending you to the ER: Florida scientists have conclusively ruled out the possibility that megalodons still exist.

They say the shark species, which reportedly grew up to 60 feet in length and weighed as much as 50 tons, definitely went extinct 2.6 million years ago because of changes in environment and food supply. In short, the fish became too big to succeed.

Doc Talk

Embolectomy: surgical removal of an embolus, such as a blood clot.

Mania of the Week

Pteridomania: an obsessive passion for ferns.

Never Say Diet

The speed-eating record for baby back ribs is 5.24 pounds in eight minutes, held by Patrick Bertoletti. Warning: Most of these records are held by professional eaters; the rest are held by people who really should find something better to do.

Medical History

This week in 1873, the first U.S. patent for a gold crown was issued to Dr. John B. Beers of San Francisco. His technique was to prepare a hollow, tooth-shaped metal crown that was slipped over the projecting portion of the old tooth and glued onto a gold screw. It replaced the old method of condensing gold upon the decayed tooth and shaping it with a hammer — a process that was costly, was tedious and often resulted in inflammation from hammering on the jaw.

Last Words

"I've never felt better." — American actor Douglas Fairbanks Sr. (1883-1939), who suffered a fatal heart attack

To find out more about Scott LaFee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.