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10 cybersecurity stocks to capitalize on AI doomsday fears: SocGen
Société Générale thinks the rally in cybersecurity stocks can continue.
Fine-Tuning — for the Universe or for Life?
Teetering on the brink of science fiction is the supposition that advanced civilizations would utilize black holes for energy sources.
Carrot Top Breathing on His Own as Rep Shares Major Health Update
Scott Thompson, known professionally as Carrot Top, is awake and breathing on his own while he remains hospitalized in Las Vegas. His representative said the comedian continues to receive close medica...
Scientists Found 15,000-Year-Old Fingerprints from a Lost Civilization
A cache of 142 clay beads from Natufian sites in Israel preserved 50 fingerprints—many belonging to children—pushing the origins of ornament-making back thousands of years.
Trump and Mamdani to meet in New York
The president of the United States and the mayor have met three times so far.
A true independent could shake Congress from its slumber
Americans should consider voting independent in November. Here’s why.
The Daily Mauling: 9/21/26
Kansas Jayhawks News Dillon Davis of SI writes about the disappointment in London this weekend The full basketball Big 12 conference schedule is out. What does KU’s slate look like? Through the Phog writes that Tate Nagy could be a bigger contributor to the team than we may have realized Links! A blind loggerhead sea […]
Toronto Raptors season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction
After waiting more than a month for the Kawhi Leonard trade to be finalized, the Toronto Raptors are now an intriguing team in the Eastern Conference.
Through the years: Dr. Larry Antonucci, CEO of Lee Health
CEO of Lee Health retires; dealt with COVID, Hurricane Ian, conversion to nonprofit system, AI and growthLiz
‘We need more cash’: Democrats privately flashing alarms over GOP spending deluge in midterms
Top Democrats across the country are privately warning that they do not have enough cash in the November midterm battle to capitalize on what could be their party’s best political environment in over a decade and are at serious risk of leaving winnable seats on the table.
Trump heads into a week of diplomacy, hampered by a lack of allies
At the United Nations on Tuesday and in meetings with China's Xi Jinping on Thursday, the president will largely stand alone.
What the weather can teach us about health
What if predicting your future health is more like forecasting the weather than we realize? New research suggests fundamental limits to how far ahead even perfect weather models can see. That idea raises a provocative question for precision medicine: Can more data and better models ever make an individual’s future truly predictable?
Arctic Melt Season Length Levels Off
While the sea ice melt season has lengthened dramatically in most of the satellite era, the trend unexpectedly stabilized around 2010.
Pawsitvely Posh joins Greene County Partnership
Pawsitively Posh Pet Resort & Spa has joined the Greene County Partnership. The business opened in November 2023 and offers boarding, grooming, bathing, doggie daycare, socialization, and personalized care. Since
Carrot Top's Rep Gives Update on Comedian After Alleged Suicide Attempt
A representative for Scott "Carrot Top" Thompson is reportedly giving an update on the comedian's condition as he remains hospitalized following an alleged suicide attempt.
Charlize Theron on ‘The Odyssey’ Becoming Universal’s Highest-Grossing Movie and Raising Millions to Fight Femicide in Africa With CTAOP
Last week, Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” became Universal Pictures’ highest-grossing film of all time, grossing $1.68 billion and counting. “I feel like I got a great invitation to the best party ...
Phoenix Suns 2026-27 Player Profile: Khaman Maluach
After a tantalizing Summer League, the Duke product enters a pivotal sophomore campaign. Discover how his floor-spacing potential and defensive growth could propel him into the starting lineup.
Carrot Top rep provides promising health update after comedian’s hospitalization
Comedian Carrot Top, whose real name is Scott Thompson, is ‘breathing on his own’ two days after his hospitalization in Las Vegas.
Bruins Suddenly Place Recent Trade Acquisition on Waivers
The Boston Bruins are set to compete in their first exhibition contest of the 2026-27 NHL campaign on Sunday evening, as they’ll take on the Washington Capitals on home ice. However, before the matchup, the Bruins have made a personnel move as they work toward getting their roster finalized. The Boston Bruins Have Waived Forward […] The post Bruins Suddenly Place Recent Trade Acquisition on Waivers appeared first on HEAVY.
Biggest Takeaways From UCF's Offensive Attack in Week 2
A revitalized ground game and Duke Watson’s explosive playmaking fueled the Knights' bounce-back win, securing the temporary starting job for Keyone Jenkins ahead of a tough Big 12 opener.
Predicting The Washington Wizards Depth Chart After Finalizing Their Roster
After re-signing veteran leader and fan favorite Anthony Gill to a one-year deal, the Washington Wizards' depth chart is finally finalized. With this revamped roster and a potential postseason push, the Wizards' lineup will no doubt look very different from last season. Ahead of one of the most exciting Wizards seasons since the John Wall-Bradley …
Elizabeth Hurley, 61, Poses in Peach Bikini and Shares Sunset Kiss With Billy Ray Cyrus in New Update
Fans were in awe of her ageless beauty as she flaunted her ongoing romance.
Elizabeth Hurley, 61, Poses in Peach Bikini and Shares Sunset Kiss With Billy Ray Cyrus in New Update
Fans were in awe of her ageless beauty as she flaunted her ongoing romance.
Elizabeth Hurley, 61, Poses in Peach Bikini and Shares Sunset Kiss With Billy Ray Cyrus in New Update
Fans were in awe of her ageless beauty as she flaunted her ongoing romance.
My 13-year-old refused to share his location with me. I was annoyed — until I realized he had a point.
My 13-year-old refused to let me track him. I realized he was right.
I grew up with little parental supervision. When my teen objected to GPS tracking, I realized how much modern parenting had changed me.
Debbie Gibson Reached Out to Carrot Top Days Before Alleged Suicide Attempt
Debbie Gibson is sending her support to friend Carrot Top after the comedian was hospitalized following an alleged suicide attempt.
Debbie Gibson Reached Out to Carrot Top Days Before Alleged Suicide Attempt
Debbie Gibson is sending her support to friend Carrot Top after the comedian was hospitalized following an alleged suicide attempt.
Debbie Gibson Reached Out to Carrot Top Days Before Alleged Suicide Attempt
Debbie Gibson is sending her support to friend Carrot Top after the comedian was hospitalized following an alleged suicide attempt.
Why Is Elbit Systems (TASE:ESLT) Rebranding Its U.S. Business As Twenty Six Defense?
Elbit Systems (TASE:ESLT) has rebranded its U.S. operating segment as Twenty-Six Defense, targeting the domestic American defense market. The new Twenty-Six Defense banner is intended to highlight U.S. industrial capacity and onshore production for defense customers. Elbit Systems links the rebrand to closer alignment with U.S. national security priorities and government focus on localized manufacturing. The Twenty-Six Defense shift toward a U.S. centric identity is an important context for...
New California law will penalize influencers don't disclose political ads
The new legislation adds teeth to disclosure requirements for online influencers who are paid to post about politics.
New California law will penalize influencers who don’t disclose political ads
The new legislation adds teeth to disclosure requirements for online influencers who are paid to post about politics.
BlizzCon 2026 Debuts Halftime Show With YOASOBI
The J-pop duo electrified the Overwatch World Cup as Simu Liu, T-Pain, deadmau5 and more joined Blizzard's long-awaited return to Anaheim.
Blizzard developer says World of Warcraft: Forever's beta numbers are the "craziest" he's seen in 17 years
World of Warcraft: Forever's beta was overwhelmed by players this week, with a Blizzard developer calling the numbers the biggest he's seen in 17 years.
Is ‘Monster’ star Ella Beatty related to actor Warren Beatty?
Ella Beatty plays the titular character in Netflix's 'Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story'
Salient Stats: Kentucky 31, Texas A&M 21
The numbers that tell the tale of the Aggies demoralizing loss to Kentucky
Even medical professionals are skipping health insurance because of high prices
A larger share of health care workers have health insurance than those in other fields. But they are feeling the pinch as health insurance costs rise.
Moving to Spain made me realize I don't want the American dream
Kevin Schreck says his quality of life is better in Valencia, Spain. Housing is affordable, and he is less worried about medical bills.
How This Founder Turned Her Side Hustle Into a $500,000 Business
Former Survivor cast member Liz Wilcox was working as a copy editor when she had the idea to start selling email templates.
Hideo Kojima explains the surprise split with Sony
Celebrated game director Hideo Kojima wrestled with Sony’s surprise cancellation months before it went public, he said in an interview, fearing “our studio could collapse.”
I’m a pulmonologist. Here’s why new wellness claims about nicotine worry me.
Some wellness influencers are saying nicotine promotes cognition and longevity. Scientific studies, however, paint a more complicated picture.
Twilio CEO Khozema Shipchandler handwrites notes to leadership team
Twilio boss Khozema Shipchandler shares how personalized analog messages shape his leadership.
Trump used to slam China. Here's why he's now rolling out the red carpet for Xi
When Donald Trump ran for office a decade ago, he called China a menace to the U.S. economy
Game 155: Twins at Angels
First Pitch: 8:38 pm CDTTV: Twins.TVRadio: TIBN / WCCO 830 / The Wolf 102.9 FM / Audacy The kids have been showing out a bit in Anaheim, providing one of the only remaining reasons to watch 2026 Twins baseball as this underwhelming season has normalized itself to fall back in line with preseason projections. Now, […]
UCF Names Jenkins as Starting QB Against Georgia State
Jenkins takes the reins, facing a high-stakes debut to stabilize the Knights before Big 12 play.
Comedians show support for Carrot Top after hospitalization
Fellow comedians are showing support for Carrot Top on social media after the comic was reportedly hospitalized following a suicide attempt Friday. Carrot Top, whose real name is Scott Thompson, wa…
A 66-million-year-old tooth reveals T. rex was nearly as warm as a human
Chemical clues preserved inside fossilized T. rex teeth reveal that the dinosaur maintained a body temperature of about 97 degrees Fahrenheit, almost identical to humans. The finding provides direct evidence that the giant predator was warm-blooded, helping explain how it stayed active and survived in chilly environments as far north as Alaska.
Annual rally at Boston Common draws thousands of marijuana advocates ahead of historic repeal vote
This year’s event billed itself as the “first overtly political” Freedom Rally since recreational marijuana was legalized across the state in 2016.
Snooki announces that she is cancer-free
‘Jersey Shore’ star Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi announced that she is cancer-free after previously sharing her stage 1 cervical cancer diagnosis.
Carrot Top hospitalized in Vegas after alleged suicide attempt: report
Carrot Top has been hospitalized following an alleged suicide attempt, according to a report. The comedian, whose real name is Scott Thompson, was rushed to the hospital ahead of his
Carrot Top hospitalized in Las Vegas after apparent suicide attempt
Carrot Top, the mop-topped prop comedian who has entertained audiences since the early 1990s, was taken to a Las Vegas hospital after an apparent suicide attempt, according to a report
Carrot Top is ‘recovering’ after being hospitalized in Las Vegas, rep says
Carrot Top was hospitalized in Las Vegas on Friday and was ‘recovering’ on Saturday. His scheduled shows at the Luxor over the weekend were cancelled.
State/Local Health Officials Warn Public Measles Visitor Traveled State
It is related to a passenger who traveled by train and bus and was hospitalized.
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month recognized in Laredo
An Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month proclamation in Laredo highlighted the importance of early detection and expanded access to specialized care.
Cardinal Health Sees Growth Normalize as Specialty, At-Home Investments Expand
Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH) CEO Jason Hollar said the company’s fiscal 2026 performance was supported by double-digit earnings growth across each of its five operating segments, while fiscal 2027 guidance reflects continued growth from a more normalized base. Speaking at a Baird event, Hollar said t
Carrot Top hospitalized after alleged suicide attempt: report
Scott "Carrot Top" Thompson is recovering in a Las Vegas hospital as of Sept. 18 after reports of the comedian's alleged suicide attempt.
The ‘Control Resonant’ Metacritic Review Score Has Finalized With GOTY Potential
'Control Resonant' has settled with a Metacritic review score that is very positive. What are the chances it lands a GOTY nomination?
MS NOW says journalists blocked from White House after Trump announces ban
The network said it “intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights” after Trump said he would block MS NOW, CNN and Politico.
The Big Holes in Wearable Heart Rate Variability And Readiness Scores
On September 9th, Apple announced it was revamping its Apple Watch Health Sensing System, rolling out a Readiness score (0 to 10), and increasing the frequency of heart rate variability (HRV) outputs 24-fold. This can be viewed as upping its competition with various other consumer wearable sensors. These “readiness scores” as a composite of multiple metrics, with heart rate variability (HRV) being front and center for most. The majority of Americans are now using wearable sensors, which equates to well over 100 million adults. HRV and Readiness scores are increasingly being marketed as a measurement of autonomic nervous system health, a digital marker for future disease, a clock for biological age, and a holistic metric to promote healthspan and even longevity. (Apple also introduced a new longevity tab and “Health Age”.) None of this has been proven. In this edition of Ground Truths I am going to review what we know about heart rate variability and readiness scores. Heart Rate Variability HRV is the variation in normal heart cycle timing. The variability of the heart rate, the barely perceptible millisecond changes in time between consecutive heart beats (see R-R intervals in the Figure below, left panel), is due to interplay between the sympathetic and parasympathetic (vagal nerve) inputs. Distinct from heart rate, individuals with the same heart rate can have very different HRVs. It is a rough reflection of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, inadequate to say whether a person’s ANS function is abnormal. For more than three decades, heart rate variability (HRV) has been measured and several studies have found an association of low HRV and clinical outcomes, particularly a link with higher all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. There have also been less well established links of low HRV to risk of early cognitive impairment, dementia, mental illness, Type 2 diabetes and substance abuse. An important reminder is that HRV is a surrogate marker without any established cause-and-effect relationship. If you increase your HRV, that doesn’t mean it will improve health outcomes. In fact, there is no hard evidence for that. All that work linking to health outcomes was done with electrocardiogram (ECG) derived HRV. Now, in the era of consumer wearables, this is getting assessed differently, by optical pulse (yes, the lights you see) plethysmography (PPG) or what is called pulse rate variability (PRV). They are not the same, as shown below (right panel) and only concordant when the delay between the ECG and pulse is kept constant, which basically means at rest. I should mention there’s also what I will call MPV, a mattress mechanical movement sensor, a derived heart rate variability, that companies like Eight Sleep use, even further away from directly measuring HRV. HRV has not one uniform measurement but many different types of quantification, such as RMSSD, the magnitude of difference between successive R-R intervals of normal sinus beats (N-N) or SDNN, the standard deviation of NN intervals, both in milliseconds. SDNN is one of the so-called frequency domain HRVs (others are LF, HF, LF/HF). Different wearable sensors use different metics; Apple has relied on SDNN and nearly all of the others use RMSSD, which is generally considered the more accurate metric. There’s also the different length of time measured, such as for a matter of minutes, all day, or an overnight’s sleep. Short measurements are especially problematic since they don’t capture enough of respiratory modulation and other factors that influence HRV. Share Ground Truths How well does HRV correlate with PRV? There are very limited studies, especially independently done. One that is commonly cited was conducted by Air Force researchers in only 13 healthy adults assessing Oura ring 3 and 4, Whoop 4.0, and Garmin Fenix 6 and showed a correlation coefficient of 0.88 to 0.97 and a mean absolute percentage error from 6 to 10%. The correlation is not a perfect 1.0, but there’s at least a fairly high level of correlation. HRV is supposed to increase during the night due to takeover of the parasympathetic nervous system, and higher during deep sleep. A recent example of my 1 week, all day “HRV,” and one during sleep is shown below. As you can see, the N of 1 data are inconsistent for the same days from different sensors (Oura, AppleWatch, Fitbit Air, and Eight Sleep) by patterns, absolute numbers, and comparison with prior days and weeks. The largest study in over 8 million Fitbit users (the old version, not Google Fitbit Air, introduced in May 2026) gives you a sense of the effect of age, sex, and the 2 different main HRV (here PRV) metrics, with RMSSD on the left and SDRR (=SDNN) on the right below. That study, from data collected in 2018, is a major outlier, since all the more recent ones are tiny with respect to sample size. Many of the companies have not had independent evaluation of their HRV, such as Eight Sleep, but have published a low standard error on their website. There are some other published studies on the correlation between HRV and PRV, but they are all small and only in healthy adults. A scoping review emphasized the lack of study in underrepresented individuals, including the aged, people of color (which affects the PPG signal), and individuals who are underweight or obese. Add the typical adult age 60 plus with one or more chronic diseases. For example, one study in over 900 adults found poor correlation of HRV and PRV, non-uniformly underestimated across many chronic diseases (cardiovascular, endocrine, neurological, respiratory, and others), concluding PRV is “an invalid surrogate for HRV.” A recent systematic review of 43 studies comparing HRV and PRV found reasonable pooled absolute standardized error (HRV as gold standard) but only 10 of the studies provided quantitative synthesis in ideal conditions. Their main conclusion was similarly cautious: “PPG-derived HRV [PRV] should not be regarded as universally interchangeable with ECG-derived HRV across all devices, populations, and recording contexts.” Factors Affecting HRV and PRV That gets me to the long list of factors that affect HRV (and PRV) besides the device, the type of measurement (RMSSD, SDNN or others), the person’s signal, the sensor site, the duration of data capture, if weighting by sleep stage is used, how artifact is processed and corrected. And this list is not complete!: Oura puts out data from their community of users (who input data) on what affects their overnight HRV. The factors currently provided are: no alcohol (increase 8%), melatonin (increase 2%, float tank (increase 2%), wine (decrease 4%), and party (decrease 14%) in overnight HRV. Must be some big parties! Subscribe What is a PRV measurement good for? It has been falsely characterized as an index of “autonomic balance” and a specific indicator of stress. A 2018 review of the studies available for HRV and its relationship to stress, not using any of the current wearables, found that stress can lower HRV. But so can many other factors. The non-specificity of the signal, indexed to the table above, is striking. Evidence from a UK Biobank study of over 46,000 participants with actual HRV looked at genetically predicted HRV, a genetic risk score, that failed to show the expected HRV-mortality link, indicating that _HRV is likely not causa_l, but rather a reflection of person’s physiologic state. A review of consumer wearable HRV data from 5 longitudinal studies showed that nighttime PRV was not associated with perceived stress, and surprisingly higher HRV, in the largest cohort (N=717 participants), was correlated with higher stress. An Oura ring cohort of 525 first-year college students found a link between overnight PRV and perceived stress, but that was also seen with resting heart rate, sleep, and respiratory rate. Several very small studies have examined the relationship of HRV and athletic injuries or guiding training with mixed, and predominantly negative results. HRV biofeedback training with paced breathing had no significant effect on reducing stress or raising HRV, as demonstrated with sham controlled trials. When HRV for multiple days showed a decline in conjunction with body temperature, the Oura ring published data for prediction of Covid. The WHOOP company sponsored an observational study, published in 2026, of 30,000 users for 72 weeks, without a control group, that reported reduced alcohol intake (5.8 % points) by self-report. That doesn’t tell us much, and particularly about the merits of HRV for behavioral change. If you use the same device and conditions as longitudinal trends for multiple (at least 2-3) weeks that may be the one way to get something useful from the measurements. Data for overnight sleep with minimal motion and using RMSSD is the best proxy for real HRV. The reason to look at trends rather than any given night is that it more likely represents something, even though you won’t know with certainty what the “it” is. Keep in mind there are no data, no peer-reviewed evidence, to show that HRV fluctuation in-person has any correlation with health outcomes. Share Readiness Scores These are proprietary scores that integrate different metrics for each of the wearables: no algorithms have been disclosed. They are unvalidated against health outcomes. In a review of 14 composite health scores of readiness and recovery, HRV contributed 86% to the scores, followed by reading heart rate (79%), physical activity and sleep duration (both at 71%). That review noted the substantial variability in measurement protools and lack of standardization. Sleep staging is notoriously inconsistent and inaccurate by these sensors, which adds further to the HRV uncertainties for what the scores, which use sleep stage data, mean. Only resting heart rate has been shown consistently across devices to be extremely accurate. I’ve made a Table to summarize what we know about which metrics are included, the scores, any peer-reviewed studies that compared the readiness score with health outcomes, and the corresponding (if any, NA-not available) citation. You will note that some companies do not use the term “readiness," such as WHOOP for recovery, and Garmin, which has 2 different scores, one of which is Body Battery. Eight Sleep uses the term “Fitness Score.” They all include HRV; Apple includes a new metric they call “Recovery HRV” which among other components uses 7-days of sleep, but it is unclear what this means or how it is differentiated from other scores (there are clearly no data for outcomes). We have no knowledge of how the different components are weighted or whether any of these scores are better than resting heart rate, HRV alone, physical activity, or any other single metric. Since none of these are standardized, they are not interchangeable, so if you get a 90 for Oura that has no relationship to a 90 on a Google Fitbit Air. Notably, the company can update its algorithm for readiness score at any point without notification to device users. Without any useful evidence of actionability for these scores or established relationship with health outcomes, it is hard to make a case for their value. At the Apple recent announcement they showed their Readiness score (0-10) on the watch (Figure below) but there are no published data on this score, not even on their website. It’s available only on their new Watch Series 12 or Ultra 4 [of course, ;-)]. That exemplifies the problems with these scores, lack of data and evidence for being meaningful to promote health. Perhaps the best study (which isn’t saying much) is the WHOOP Recovery for golfer performance, because it did correlate with an objective outcome, even though there was no control group and the authors were all from the company. Among the 389 pro golfers, an absolute 10-per cent point increase in Recovery score was associated with about 0.5 fewer strokes per round. But that’s hardly a health outcome! WHOOP is also conducting a study in over 2,700 runners to see if their recovery score will be linked to less injuries and improved performance, but that is not yet published and has no control group or randomization. Putting This in Context For two decades I’ve been enthusiastic about the potential for digital health and particularly wearable biosensors. Over the years, we’ve seen some great progress for their ability to promote physical activity and accurately detect atrial fibrillation (the first FDA cleared deep learning AI for consumers). That work was the subject of rigorous research. But there are holes in the data and evidence for other metrics. One notable one is the “VO2 max” story that I wrote about earlier this year. At that time many subscribers asked me to cover heart rate variability, which I finally got to here. When I dived into the research and publication for HRV and readiness scores, I expected to find at least some that were of high quality and demonstrated their utility by linkage to health outcomes. To my surprise, I found none. The wearable sensor measurements for HRV (PRV) are, for the most part, accurate, but that validation work has only been done in small studies of healthy adults and does not take into account the long list of factors, from the device, software side, and the user side, that affect HRV measurements. Moreover, this metric chiefly relies on optical sensing and, as we have learned for heart rate PPG sensing, may be less accurate in people of color. Keep in mind that all of the health outcome association evidence comes from ECG-derived HRV; none are from wearable sensor data. I will repeat the key point: there's no peer-reviewed evidence to show that in-person HRV fluctuation—or efforts to raise your HRV— has any correlation with health outcomes. For those of you who look at your HRV on awakening, or even 2+ week trends of it being low, I hope this context helps to relieve any anxiety. Yes, low HRV (not PRV) has been shown to increase risk of some diseases as summarized above. But efforts to raise your HRV—a surrogate metric— has not been established for improving any health outcomes. HRV does not have any evidence of causality (the genetic evidence actually goes against this possibility). In this summary, I have not included data for other wearable sensors such as Polar, Samsung, Withings, Suunto, Amazfit, Coros, Ultrahuman, or additional mattress sensors. These are beyond my first-hand experience, and as far as I know from my in-depth review none have any peer-reviewed published data that differ from the 6 sensors I’ve reviewed here. From the points I’ve gone over above, we’re not ready for readiness scores. Besides being proprietary, they are predominantly based on metrics that have their own issues. It’s compounding the problem, like building a house without a solid foundation that has never undergone a rigorous inspection, and then selling it. Like I mentioned for PRV, you can look at trends over weeks rather than any single day, to get a handle, but even that may not be helpful. There’s simply no evidence that these scores meaningfully relate to health outcomes. I’d emphasize they might, but that requires doing prospective or randomized studies to prove it. None exist. There’s great promise for HRV/PRV utility_. For example**,**_ Prof Maiken Nedergaard, who discovered the brain glymphatics that are essential in eliminating metabolic waste products from the brain during sleep, has posited that HRV could be a non-invasive marker for neuromodulator oscillations, brain-body regulatory circuits, and brain clearance. That would be extremely useful, but like everything else on HRV and readiness scores it requires solid research and validation. The lay media isn’t helping much to get the story straight. Earlier this year The Economist published a piece entitled “The most useful indicator of your overall health” which ordained HRV as an “accumulated stress score.” That’s akin to the false assertion about VO2max: “V02 max is the singular most powerful marker for longevity.” As I’ve summarized here, that is not established. The fact is that so many things can lower HRV, including physical exercise (especially an intense workout), reduced sleep quality, stress, the list above, no less the device, signal, and software. Whatever fluctuations observed have not been correlated with any health outcome. Sadly, “datamaxxers” are widely using HRV and readiness scores that have never been validated to mean anything. We already know that for some people using the sensors for sleep metrics, it can induce “orthosomnia,” an obsession to get high sleep quality, with associated high levels of anxiety. In an experiment done by a company to promote sleep quality for its employees, “For those employees who did use the trackers, many reported feeling perfectly rested until their tracker told them they had had a terrible night. Others were told that they had slept like a baby when they had actually been lying awake worrying about the quality of their sleep. “ The same problem can result from preoccupation with HRV or readiness scores, with anxiety that would lead to further reduction in both. It you are using a wearable like >100 million American adults, it’s OK to look at these data, but contextualized with the major caveats reviewed here. If you are one to require evidence that HRV or readiness scores are linked to health outcomes, you may not even want to look. The companies make it hard to turn them off! Let me end with the companies that make and sell wearables. Apple’s doubling down on HRV (24-fold more reporting and heart rate very 5 seconds) and introduction of a Readiness score tells us that consumers have bought into these metrics and they are joining the club. However, all of this is occurring with a backdrop of tens millions of users, claims about the data that are not backed up by adequate evidence, marketing way out in front of whatever limited data exists, and not being transparent about their readiness score algorithms. The companies can well afford to do the research that is needed to connect these metrics with health outcomes show, once and for all, that increasing HRV or using readiness scores promotes our health. If they believed and invested in the products they are selling, we’d not be in this position of not knowing. That’s essentially where we are with HRV and readiness scores. Perhaps someday this will change and we’ll have good reason to embrace them. NB: I wrote this post. No AI. I have no conflicts of interest with any of its content. Loading... Ground Truths has 215,000 subscribers from every US state and 214 countries. There are over 300,000 followers of Ground Truths so more than 90,000 folks who can easily convert to be free subscribers. Your subscription to these free essays and podcasts makes my work in putting them together worthwhile. If you’re not a subscriber, please join! If you found this interesting PLEASE share it! Share Ground Truths The proceeds from all voluntary paid subscriptions go to support our summer internship program. It enabled us to accept and support a record number of 62 summer interns that joined us in 2026! These are high school, college and medical students selected from thousands of applicants. We couldn’t do this expanded program without the funds coming in through Ground Truths. Thank you!
I asked if Warcraft 3, WoW: Forever, and Heroes of the Storm will come to Xbox — they all said the same thing ...
The same old answer ... a tale as old as time. Will Warcraft and other Blizzard PC titles come to Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch? Blizzard isn't saying "no" ... but it's not exactly saying yes.
Charlie Hunnam admits he was ‘dreading’ that vomit scene in ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’
The stars and director of ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ break down that ‘absolutely crazy’ vomiting scene in the second episode of the Netflix series.
Carrot Top Hospitalized After Suicide Attempt: Rep Shares Health Update
Fans flooded the 61-year-old comedian — known for his bright red hair and wild props — with prayers.
Beam-signing ceremony at the new Jefferson Health Turn and Grind Shop at SteelStacks
ArtsQuest leadership, elected officials, Lehigh Valley Health Network/Jefferson Health representatives, project partners and community leaders signed a steel beam that will become part of the revitalized building.
48 hours after $15M lawsuit text drop, Carrot Top attempts to take his life; Vegas headliner hospitalized...
His long-running headlining residency at the Luxor was abruptly canceled following the emergency.
Washington Wizards Finalize Exhibit 10 Signing of Rookie Forward
The Washington Wizards have finalized the Exhibit 10 signing of undrafted rookie and former Auburn and Mississippi State forward, KeShawn Murphy
The nation’s premier business group is hitting the road to stamp out socialism
In a six-week trip, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce hopes to convince midterm voters that free markets still offer the best hope for solving the nation’s economic woes.
How a fun night out got to be so expensive
With the cost of concerts, sports games and restaurants far outpacing inflation, more people are staying home.
Trump is sober about the midterm prospects for Republicans, advisers say
In private, President Trump has been hearing blunt news from advisers about the GOP's poor chances in the midterms and has accepted that some of the problem is of his making.
As Fans Flood the World of Warcraft: Forever Beta, Dev Says It's Putting Up 'The Craziest Numbers I've Seen in 17 Years Working at Blizzard'
World of Warcraft: Forever looks like it could be a smash hit after the launch of the beta was overrun with eager fans, surprising even Blizzard itself.
Meta (META)’s Stilla.ai Deal Could Turn Business Agent Into a New Monetization Engine
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is taking another step toward monetizing artificial intelligence beyond its core advertising business. On September 9, the company acquired AI startup Stilla.ai. The acquisition will strengthen the company’s agentic AI capabilities as it moves to capitalize on growing demand for AI agents that can handle business transactions. Plans are underway to […]
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Carrot Top hospitalized after suicide attempt, TMZ reports
Comedian Carrot Top is in the hospital Friday after attempting suicide, TMZ reports. The Las Vegas-based performer, whose real name is Scott Thompson, reportedly attempted suicide in the Vegas area…
Vought pushes for scrutiny of NIH grants in Oval Office clash
A heated debate took place in the Oval Office on Friday, with some Trump officials accusing the National Institutes of Health of funding grants that conflict with the president’s agenda.
Under pressure from Trump administration, NYU Langone Health will end gender-affirming care to minors and pay an $8.5M fine
The head of Gender Equality New York assailed NYU Langone for its "surrender" to the Justice Department, and the Trump administration for "attacking our small, marginalized community."
The science of grief and how it can impact physical health
If we are lucky enough to live full lives and form meaningful relationships, chances are, we will also experience loss, and with it, grief. As common as grief is, it’s also mysterious. Horizons guest moderator Ali Rogin explores the science of grief with Liz Gleeson and Dr. George Slavich.
The science of grief and how it can impact physical health
If we are lucky enough to live full lives and form meaningful relationships, chances are, we will also experience loss, and with it, grief. As common as grief is, it’s also mysterious. Horizons guest moderator Ali Rogin explores the science of grief with Liz Gleeson and Dr. George Slavich.
Broncos make decision on Courtland Sutton's option bonus, impacting 2027
The Broncos did not utilize the option bonus mechanism in Courtland Sutton's contract, and it would be easy to exit the deal in 2027.
Environmental and Public Health Groups Sue Over the Trump EPA’s Latest Attempt to Bolster Fossil Fuels
Environmental and public health groups are suing the Trump administration over its most recent move to eliminate protections against climate-warming pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency announced a plan on Monday, finalized in the Federal Register on Thursday, to revoke most of a Biden-era rule to limit greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel power plants. The […]
Trump announces ‘forever’ deal to defend Greenland as Denmark says signing ‘expected’ next week
President Trump announced an agreement with Denmark that he said gives the United States "permanent" sway over Greenland's security.
NCDOA holds series of forum for minority small business owners after elimination of HUB in budget
Following its elimination in the new state budget, minority businesses will no longer have the aid of the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses, which helped provide assistance with state contracts for more than 25 years.
NCDOA holds series of forum for minority small business owners after elimination of HUB in budget
Following its elimination in the new state budget, minority businesses will no longer have the aid of the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses, which helped provide assistance with state contracts for more than 25 years.
Black congressional leaders endorse James Talarico in Texas Senate race
Talarico has strong support among Black voters in public polls, but he has recently stepped up his efforts to reach them.
'The Ford/Hill Project' review: Anita Hill, Christine Blasey Ford testify
In 'The Ford/Hill Project,' a new docudrama created by Elizabeth Marvel and director Lee Sunday Evans now at REDCAT, the Senate testimonies of Anita Hill and Christine Blasey Ford are entwined to throw into relief enduring political patterns.
Iran war’s cost grows to $43.6 billion in new US military estimate
The U.S. military’s price tag for the Iran war has grown to $43.6 billion as of Sept. 3
United Bank hires Phil Poliquin to lead government contracting business
Phil PoliquinUnited Bank, a subsidiary of United Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: UBSI), has announced that Phil Poliquin has joined the Bank as senior vice president and managing director of Government Contracting (GovCon), leading the next phase of growth for United’s GovCon business across the Bank’s footprint.United has a longstanding history of serving government contractors and meeting the dynamic banking needs of companies supporting federal, state and commercial markets. Building on that foundation, the Bank is establishing a dedicated GovCon team led by Poliquin. The new team will bring together bankers from across United's footprint under a focused strategy designed to deepen industry expertise, strengthen client relationships and expand the Bank's presence in this important market.“Government contractors operate in a complex and highly specialized environment, and Phil understands that environment from multiple perspectives,” said United Bank Chief Commercial Lending Officer Mike Proctor in a press release. “His extensive commercial banking experience, combined with more than two decades of military and government service, brings tremendous depth and expertise to our team. We’re excited to have his leadership and insight as we continue strengthening how United serves our GovCon clients across the nation’s capital and beyond.”In his new role, Poliquin will lead United’s GovCon lending strategy and a team of specialists, with a focus on deepening client relationships and expanding the Bank’s presence in the government contracting and defense sectors. He will also serve as a subject matter expert across the organization, partnering with bankers across United’s footprint to support GovCon clients and opportunities.“Government contracting has long been an important part of the economy across the Washington region, and we believe it remains an attractive sector for growth,” said United Chief Executive Officer Richard M. Adams, Jr. in a press release “As the needs of these companies continue to evolve, investing in specialized leadership strengthens our ability to build on our established presence, expand how we serve this market, and pursue new opportunities.”Poliquin has a decade of experience in commercial banking, most recently serving as executive director of Aerospace, Defense, and Government Services (ADG) commercial banking at JPMorgan Chase. In this role, he led a team responsible for providing specialized financing and treasury advice to federal government contractor companies across the nation. Previously, he also held senior leadership positions at Bank of America.Prior to his banking career, Poliquin served 24 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring at the rank of Captain in 2013. A Naval aviator, he flew more than 100 combat missions in operations around the world and served in senior leadership positions, including as commanding officer of an F/A-18 Super Hornet squadron, leading more than 250 personnel during two combat deployments. He later joined the Intelligence Community as a program manager at the National Reconnaissance Office and contributed to the development of the Navy’s unmanned aircraft system strategy.“United has a strong foundation in government contracting, and I’m excited about the opportunity to build on that foundation by expanding our industry presence, deepening relationships, and developing a team with specialized expertise focused on serving government contractors,” said Poliquin in the release. “The goal is to be a trusted resource for growth-oriented companies that need a banking partner who understands what they do, where they’re headed and can help them navigate the opportunities and complexities of this market.”Poliquin holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Oklahoma, a master’s degree in national security strategy from the U.S. Naval War College, and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.
From Proselytism to Politics: Bishop Barron Addresses Hot-Button Issues on EWTN
The Word on Fire founder clarifies the call to evangelize, defends his nonpartisan advisory role on religious liberty, and warns of resurgent communism.
Vance campaigns in deep-red territory, highlighting risks for GOP
JD Vance went for a campaign twofer on Friday: He visited a deep-red district in a swing state where the GOP desperately needs to mobilize voters. It’s also the state that happens to be the first to get a say in who will be the 2028 Republican nominee.
Gov. Pritzker Launches Illinois Reproductive Health Care Hub
New website centralizes resources for reproductive care in Illinois, connecting site visitors to medical providers, affordable care options, and helpful information
OC Frank Reich Utilizing Jets Secret Strength
Jets OC Frank Reich went into Week 1 with a plan, involve the Jets tight ends early and often. It's a theme that can lead to success this season.
California governor signs order pushing for an AI ‘kill switch’
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a likely 2028 presidential contender, said he had to act because the federal government hasn’t done enough to regulate AI.
These midterm polls caught our attention this week. They’re good for Democrats.
Political strategists and pollsters say surveys are usually more reliable after Labor Day.
BCIC Announces Four New eBridge Business Academy Cohorts Through 2027
- The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) has opened applications for four upcoming eBridge Business Academy cohorts beginning Oct. 7. The no-cost entrepreneurship program is sponsored by BCIC, facilitated by the UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (ECC), and held in person at the eBridge Center for Business and Commercialization in downtown Brownsville.
Public Administration vs. Politics: What Public Administrators Can Do Beyond the Rhetoric
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization. By George S. WelchSeptember 18, 2026 Every election cycle produces a familiar pattern. Candidates make promises. Political leaders exchange criticism. Advocacy groups mobilize supporters. Social media amplifies conflict. News coverage focuses on controversy, competition and […]
Trump pushes his $5,000 ‘dividend’ pledge if GOP wins midterms. Republican candidates, not as much
President Donald Trump came to battleground North Carolina doubling down on a tantalizing and implausible midterm promise. “If we win,” he said, “we’re going to get you $5,000. So that’s it. Very simple.” The Republican candidates who spoke at the rally had nothing to say about it. Their silence reflects a broader pattern. About a […]
‘Jersey Shore’ Star Closes the Door on Seven-Month Health Nightmare
Nicole Polizzi shared a major health update seven months after receiving a stage 1 cervical cancer diagnosis, saying doctors found no evidence of disease following her hysterectomy. The Jersey Shore s...
Alice Walton Foundation, Mercy break ground on massive Bentonville health care campus
The project has its roots in recent efforts to address the number of NWA residents who leave the region for specialized treatment.
Why the Miami Heat Should Retire Jimmy Butler's Jersey
From dragging an eighth seed to the Finals to legendary triple-doubles, Jimmy Butler revitalized a directionless franchise and cemented a remarkable legacy among the Miami Heat's all-time greats.
Build columns, not Trump’s arch, D.C. official tells administration
Local officials, preservationists and historians are pushing to scale back Trump's planned arch, advocating the slender columns originally envisioned by architects and lawmakers a century ago.