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‘It's awful’: How tariffs, soaring fuel costs and higher interest rates are squeezing American companies
Tariffs, soaring fuel prices and higher interest rates are squeezing American companies, particularly manufacturers, auto suppliers, retailers and transportation businesses.
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.
A new documentary traces the changing role of women in Texas Republican politics
New documentary, "Life of the Party," examines how women's roles in Texas Republican politics have changed over three decades through the experiences of Geanie Morrison, Sarah Davis and Mayra Flores.
‘Crisis even bigger than Covid’: American business owners are barely getting by
The historic supply chain struggles that America’s business owners face show why resurgent inflation will not be easily resolved – even if the war ended.
Mariska Hargitay Walked Onto a Set 27 Years Ago and Never Left It; No Actor in American Primetime Drama...
The two Emmys she won this month had nothing to do with Olivia Benson.
Mariska Hargitay Walked Onto a Set 27 Years Ago and Never Left It; No Actor in American Primetime Drama...
The two Emmys she won this month had nothing to do with Olivia Benson.
Cost of living in Bali: How an American retiree spends $1,300 a month
Debbie Welsch, 57, retired from LA to Bali, where she lives on $1,300 a month. Her 10-year home lease cost $45,000 upfront, or $375 a month.
Wembley welcomes 'rabid' college football fans
Wembley hosted its first American college football game on Saturday, but did the event meet expectations?
Cam Schlittler Gets Great Sign For Entering AL MVP Race
Second year pitcher Cam Schlittler is the strong American League Cy Young candidate, but he may have a chance at another award. The New York Yankees ace continues to add to the great body of work and saw his ERA dropping below 2.00 in recent weeks. Schlittler has an outside chance at the AL MVP […] The post Cam Schlittler Gets Great Sign For Entering AL MVP Race appeared first on HEAVY.
Fiesta de Salud brings free health resources, culture, community to Austin
Families gathered at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center on Saturday for Fiesta de Salud, a free community health fair aimed at helping Central Texans start the school year healthy and informed. READ MORE: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/fiesta-de-salud-brings-free-health-resources-culture-community-to-austin/
Alexander Nikishin Price Tag Revealed Amid Trade Rumors
A notable NHL insider has revealed the asking price on Alexander Nikishin's next contract, leading to the standoff with the Hurricanes. The post Alexander Nikishin Price Tag Revealed Amid Trade Rumors appeared first on HEAVY.
Bikini barista shop coming to Sulphur despite pushback
A bikini barista shop is coming soon to Sulphur, but the store’s owners are already facing pushback from the local community. Married couple Kloey and Hunter Machulski expect to begin […]
Longtime AP Florida politics reporter Brendan Farrington dies at 60
Brendan Farrington, a veteran news reporter who covered Florida politics, hurricanes and quirkiness for The Associated Press for more than 25 years, has died. He was 60.
Longtime AP Florida politics reporter Brendan Farrington dies at 60
Brendan Farrington has died at 60. The veteran news reporter was known for covering Florida politics and hurricanes for The Associated Press. Farrington died Friday at his home in Tallahassee
Longtime AP Florida politics reporter Brendan Farrington dies at 60
Brendan Farrington has died at 60. The veteran news reporter was known for covering Florida politics and hurricanes for The Associated Press. Farrington died Friday at his home in Tallahassee
Brendan Farrington, former Florida politics reporter for the AP, dies
Brendan Farrington has died at 60. The veteran news reporter was known for covering Florida politics and hurricanes for The Associated Press.
Longtime AP Florida politics reporter Brendan Farrington dies at 60
Brendan Farrington has died at 60. The veteran news reporter was known for covering Florida politics and hurricanes for The Associated Press. Farrington died Friday at his home in Tallahassee
Hawaii offers tax relief for residents, businesses impacted by Hurricane Lowell
The relief applies to GET and TAT returns for the August through November 2026 tax periods.
Three Cuban women, three businesses, one dream: How they’re building their future in Miami
They arrived in Miami by different paths. Now they’re turning what they know and love — pole dancing, tennis and skin care — into businesses and a shot at the American dream.
Yankees Send Aaron Judge Back to the Injured List
The New York Yankees will once again be without their captain and reigning American League MVP, Aaron Judge. The team announced on Saturday morning that the 34-year-old will hit the 10-day injured list (retroactive to September 17th) due to a right calf strain. Judge only appeared in seven games after returning from a fractured rib …
Fiesta de Salud brings free health resources, culture, community to Austin
Families gathered at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center on Saturday for Fiesta de Salud, a free community health fair aimed at helping Central Texans start the school year heal…
Fiesta de Salud brings free health resources, culture, community to Austin
Families gathered at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center on Saturday for Fiesta de Salud, a free community health fair aimed at helping Central Texans start the school year healthy...
Nearly 3 in 4 Americans are battling the same exhausting health problem, CDC reveals
More than seven in 10 U.S. adults experienced fatigue during a three-month period, according to a 2024 CDC survey of roughly 27,000 people. T
Nearly 3 in 4 Americans are battling the same exhausting health problem, CDC reveals
More than seven in 10 U.S. adults experienced fatigue during a three-month period, according to a 2024 CDC survey of roughly 27,000 people. T
Nearly 3 in 4 Americans are battling the same exhausting health problem, CDC reveals
More than seven in 10 U.S. adults experienced fatigue during a three-month period, according to a 2024 CDC survey of roughly 27,000 people. T
Nearly 3 in 4 Americans are battling the same exhausting health problem, CDC reveals
More than seven in 10 U.S. adults experienced fatigue during a three-month period, according to a 2024 CDC survey of roughly 27,000 people. T
Latest impressive defensive performance helps undefeated Cedar Ridge stuff Rouse
After allowing nearly 40 points per game last year, Cedar Ridge's defense has dominated so far this season. The Raiders are 4-0 for the first time since 2017.
China is winning the science race while Washington freezes American innovation
Politically delayed federal research grants freeze medical trials and risk ceding American scientific leadership to China.
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!
Detroit Tigers Must Win Out to Keep Playoff Dreams Alive
With elimination looming, Detroit must sweep their final eight games and bank on outside help to complete an improbable late-season surge toward the American League playoffs.
Scientists discover a new tiger cat hiding in plain sight
A newly identified South American tiger cat is the first cat species discovered in a century. revealing more diversity among tiger cats than previously known.
Mark Kelly Calls for Reversal of Trump’s Healthcare Cuts: 'Making Sure Every American Can Afford Quality Care'
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) called for a reversal of President Donald Trump’s "healthcare cuts," arguing that Americans should be able to access affordable, quality medical care regardless of where they...
Sullivan Fall Fest promises family fun
A Fall Festival will take place at the Sorrento Sullivan Recreation Center on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
‘All about the business’ – Bills COO defends playing Canadian national anthem on American soil
Buffalo Bills chief operating officer sees nothing wrong with playing the Canadian national anthem. The Buffalo Bills registered a resounding 41-31 win over the Detroit Lions during their first-ever regular season game at the new Highmark Stadium.
Remembering designer Bob Mackie and his impact on American culture [Unscripted column]
When I was a tween and then a teen in the late 1960s and into the ’70s, I wouldn’t dare miss “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” or “The Carol
Art-filled Old Metairie home has a vacation feel with a billiards room and pool
After losing their home in Lakeview to post-Hurricane Katrina flooding, the Wainers made sure their new home is full of what they call a ‘wow factor.’
Here's how Lakeland upended highly touted American Heritage
Matwain Bryant's interception clinches Lakeland's 21-16 victory over American Heritage.
Will the Miami Hurricanes be Without Top Running Backs?
Injuries to CharMar "Marty" Brown and Mark Fletcher Jr. cloud the Miami Hurricanes' backfield, forcing Mario Cristobal to the running back room against upcoming opponents.
ISOJ 2026 Day 2: Publishers are facing a new middleman as AI changes the business
ISOJ 2026 Day 2: Publishers are facing a new middleman as AI changes the business ISOJ. Latin American Journalism Review by The Knight Center at The University of Texas at Austin.
Thomas Jefferson’s hair linked to Sally Hemings’ children
For more than 200 years, the question has nagged at the edges of American history: Did Thomas Jefferson father children by Sally Hemings, a woman he enslaved?
Kirk Herbstreit Trashed For 'Cowardly' Stance On Ted Cruz, American Politics
Fans aren't holding back.
Kirk Herbstreit Trashed For 'Cowardly' Stance On Ted Cruz, American Politics
Fans aren't holding back.
Kirk Herbstreit Trashed For 'Cowardly' Stance On Ted Cruz, American Politics
Fans aren't holding back.
Kirk Herbstreit Trashed For 'Cowardly' Stance On Ted Cruz, American Politics
Fans aren't holding back.
Kirk Herbstreit Trashed For 'Cowardly' Stance On Ted Cruz, American Politics
Fans aren't holding back.
Kirk Herbstreit Trashed For 'Cowardly' Stance On Ted Cruz, American Politics
Fans aren't holding back.
Kirk Herbstreit Trashed For 'Cowardly' Stance On Ted Cruz, American Politics
Fans aren't holding back.
West African scientists warn of weakening health systems and urge stronger outbreak detection
LOME, Togo (AP) — West African laboratory scientists called on governments Friday to strengthen capacity to detect disease outbreaks to avoid another major outbreak, saying health systems across the region are becoming weaker.
Scientists warn of weakening health systems and urge stronger outbreak detection
West African laboratory scientists are urging governments to strengthen their capacity to detect disease outbreaks to prevent another major crisis
Scientists warn of weakening health systems and urge stronger outbreak detection
West African laboratory scientists are urging governments to strengthen their capacity to detect disease outbreaks to prevent another major crisis
PAHO: Strengthening El Niño raises growing health risks across the Americas
Drought, food insecurity, dengue, wildfires, and flooding are already affecting several countries across the region as El Niño intensifies.Washington, D.C., September 18, 2026 (PAHO) – El Niño continues to strengthen and could have significant public health impacts across the Americas in the coming months, according to the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) first regional situation report on the phenomenon.
Russia Aims to Inject Chaos Into Elections, U.S. Intelligence Finds
The Kremlin is once again seeking to undermine confidence in American democracy with online influence campaigns, U.S. officials said.
Boyer appointed to ABA Emerging Leaders Council
Devin Boyer, senior vice president and Central Iowa market leader for Nicolet National Bank in West Des Moines, has been appointed to the American Bankers Association’s Emerging Leaders Council for the 2026-27 association year. The council works to identify, connect and develop current and future banking leaders and helps guide ABA programming related to leadership…
Is Indigenous Knowledge Science? Understanding Indigenous Science ⋆ The Costa Rica News
Explore Indigenous science, Indigenous knowledge, and Western science through Sarah Lynn Thomas’s reflections from the World Ayahuasca Forum.
Why AI is speeding up scientific research but not lab experiments
A new report by Google, Google DeepMind and MIT finds that researchers are using AI…a lot. It’s just not helping as much in the lab
Americans cite high insurance premiums, out-of-pocket costs as top health care concerns
A recent Commonwealth Fund survey of more than 25,000 U.S. adults found that Americans are struggling to afford health insurance and care.
Nike Formally Announces UM Partnership – Extra Details Upon Agreed Deal
The Swoosh returns to Coral Gables in 2027, bringing exclusive Blue Ribbon Elite benefits, NIL opportunities, and heritage-inspired throwback collections to a surging Miami Hurricanes athletic department.
Bills' decision to play Canadian anthem is "all about the business"
The Bills christened their new stadium with both the American and Canadian national anthems, with the quartet known as Barenaked Ladies singing O Canada before kickoff.
MIT researchers are mapping extreme weather risks — and building tools to act on them
MIT researchers are translating climate science into actionable tools for extreme weather preparedness. The Climate Grand Challenges project has produced papers, digital tools, and datasets to help planners and utilities assess flood, hurricane, wildfire, and heat risks.
The Latest: Early midterm voting gets underway with control of Congress at stake
In-person voting for this year’s midterm elections is underway in Virginia, ushering in the final six weeks for Americans to decide which party they trust to lead Congress at a
Early voting begins in US midterm elections that could flip control of Congress
In-person voting for this year’s midterm elections is underway. Friday marked the start of early voting in Virginia, ushering in the final six weeks for Americans to decide which party
Early voting begins in U.S. midterm elections that could flip control of Congress
In-person voting for this year’s midterm elections began Friday, ushering in the final six weeks for Americans to decide which party they trust to lead Congress through a cost-of-living crisis, a prolonged war in Iran and other pressing issues.
🌀 Y! Sports Biz: In the eye of the Hurricane
Nike is taking its talents back to Miami.
Kauai small businesses ask tourists to return with aloha and some patience
When tourists should return is always a question in Hawaii, but Kauai small businesses are already asking for them to come back in the wake of the devastation left by Hurricane Lowell.
‘American Idol’ star recalls being outed on live TV: ‘I died inside’
Clay Aiken reflected on Rosie O’Donnell publicly discussing his sexuality in 2006, two years before he came out publicly.
Duncan Sheik, Tony Award-winning composer, dies at 56
Duncan Sheik attends 'The Broadway Legacy Foundation Launch' at the Broadway Museum on November 11, 2025 in New York City. (Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)Duncan Sheik, the Tony Award-winning composer behind Spring Awakening and more, has died, according to his Instagram. He was 56.The Friday morning Instagram post said the "father, husband, son, brother, and friend" died on Thursday night "surrounded by love."A message shared on Sheik's Instagram earlier this week by his family said he was "receiving medical care" and was "in critical but stable condition.""The world has a lost a singular talent, and deeply influential voice in music and theater," Friday's statement said. "From his Grammy-nominated hit “Barely Breathing” to his groundbreaking, Tony and Grammy Award-winning work on Spring Awakening, Duncan’s artistry touched many and leaves an indelible mark on the cultural landscape."Born on Nov. 18, 1969, in Montclair, New Jersey, Sheik rose to fame in 1996 when he released his self-titled debut album, which included his hit song, "Barely Breathing."The song peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and earned him a Grammy nomination for best male pop vocal performance.Following his debut album, he released Humming in 1998, Phantom Moon in 2001 and Daylight in 2002.While "Barely Breathing" established Sheik as a singer-songwriter, his career later expanded into musical theater, where he found success as a composer.Sheik collaborated with lyricist Steven Sater and composed the music for Spring Awakening, which opened on Broadway in 2006.He told Broadcast Music, Inc. in 2015 that around the time he was making the music for Spring Awakening, he wasn't "a huge fan" of music that was happening on Broadway and he wanted to make the music for an audience "beyond the normal crowd that would go to a Broadway musical."The rock musical, based on Frank Wedekind's 1891 play and starring Jonathan Groff, Lea Michele, John Gallagher and Skylar Astin, became a major success. It won eight Tony Awards in 2007, including best musical, best original score and best orchestrations.He went on to compose music for several other stage productions, including American Psycho and Because of Winn-Dixie. He also collaborated with Sater again on Alice by Heart and The Secret Life of Bees.In his interview with Broadcast Music, Inc., he added that working on musical theater has "helped broaden my palette."Sheik went on to release several more albums throughout his career, including White Limousine, Whisper House, Covers 80s, Legerdemain and Claptrap.In May, it was announced that Sheik's new musical, Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen, would make its off-Broadway debut this fall. The musical is based on Moyoco Anno's manga graphic novel of the same name.An off-Broadway revival of Spring Awakening is also set to open this fall. Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
PAHO strengthens regional dialogue to prevent and respond to violence against health workers
Washington, D.C., September 18, 2026 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) brought together about 400 participants from 34 countries in the Region for a virtual seminar to analyze the challenges posed by violence against health workers and promote comprehensive responses for its prevention and management. Additionally, a new factsheet titled Preventing violence against health workers in the Region of the Americas was presented.
How much does playoff viewership increase from round to round?
When the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays faced off in the Wild Card Series in 2022, just 1.76 million people tuned in. Yet, three years later, when the same two teams met in the American League Championship Series, Game 1 featured an audience of 5.19 million people. You can see this in all major…
How bad healthcare can derail a woman’s entire life
Exclusive: Melinda French Gates on the ways the US health system fails American women — and how to turn it around.
Column: The cruel politics that pit struggling Americans against each other
Whether it’s race, geography, neighborhood … it doesn’t really matter what divides, so long as the poor lack compassion for one another.
American turn to villain costumes to protest city cameras
What do Darth Vader, Dr. Doom, and The Lorax have in common? People have dressed up as them to protest license-plate reader cameras and data centers.
Analysis | Congress is getting older, and Americans aren’t happy
This was a significant week in the debate about aging politicians.
Sports quiz of the week: records, hazards, complaints and boring events
Have you followed the big stories in football, cricket, motor racing, tennis, cycling, golf, athletics and American football?
Kauai small businesses ask tourists to return after Hurricane Lowell, with aloha and some patience
Watching her staff happily hand out free meals for hundreds of residents outside their Wailua commercial kitchen, food truck co-owner Kelly Kakalia felt fulfill
Early voting begins in US midterm elections that could flip control of Congress
In-person voting for this year’s midterm elections is beginning, ushering in the final six weeks for Americans to decide who they trust to lead Congress through a cost-of-living crisis, a prolonged war in Iran and other pressing issues | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM & 105.9 FM
Kauai small businesses ask tourists to return after Hurricane Lowell, with aloha and some patience
Watching her staff happily hand out free meals for hundreds of residents outside their Wailua commercial kitchen, food truck co-owner Kelly Kakalia felt fulfilled.
Cody Fern says he was cast as a ‘Jared Kushner type’ villain on ‘House of Cards’ before the show imploded
‘American Horror Story’ actor Cody Fern says he was cast as a ‘Jared Kushner type’ villain on ‘House of Cards’ season 6 before the show imploded amid the firing of Kevin Spacey.
🚨 Libertadores and Sudamericana semi-finals confirmed
The final stage has arrived! The Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana already have all their semifinalists confirmed.Flamengo struggled at home against Independiente del Valle, who were chasing...
1 in 3 Americans with health insurance have medical debt, survey finds
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Eric Schrier Steps Down As Disney Executive, Becomes Producer (Exclu)
Eric Schrier is stepping down as President of DTC International Originals. He segues to producing deal with Disney Entertainment Television.
Carolina Hurricanes Announce Eric Robinson News During Training Camp
Thursday, September 17, is an important day on the NHL calendar, as teams across the league have begun the training camp portion of their season. That is the case for the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. After the lengthy title run, the Canes are dealing with a handful of injuries, but all things considered, […] The post Carolina Hurricanes Announce Eric Robinson News During Training Camp appeared first on HEAVY.
Bookwaves/Artwaves - September 17, 2026: Mary Roach, America's Funniest Science Author, Part One
Two Interviews with best-selling science writer Mary Roach. From 2010, "Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void." looks at life as an astronaut and in outer space. From 2021, "Fuzz: When Nature Breaks The Law" examines what happens when animals break the law (as opposed to joining the FBI if they've been abused). Also: Reviews of "The Cook" at Berkeley Rep through October 11, 2026, and "African Stew" at the Magic through September 27, 2026. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
How to watch the Texas vs UTSA game
How to watch Texas football play UTSA at home before the Longhorns open SEC play.
Cincinnati Reds fall to Los Angeles Dodgers. See photos
Cincinnati Reds play their final game of series with Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park.
Ebola outbreak in Congo is still serious, African health body says
DAKAR, Sept 17 (Reuters) - The ongoing Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo is still serious, with data indicating gaps in infection prevention and control, Africa's top public health agency
A Tectonic (or Techtonic) Shift in American Politics?
Culture-war populism looks to be giving way to economic populism.
Northern border bills proposed by N.Y. representatives pass the House
Both bills now head to the Senate.
About 35 million people have been put into new House districts in the fight over congressional maps, report says
The findings display the stark overhaul that partisan redistricting fights kicked off by President Donald Trump last year have caused for Americans across the country.
'$40 TRILLION IN DEBT': Political strategist Kevin Roberts says this is the ACTUAL problem
Political strategist Kevin Roberts says Americans are adjusting to inflation, but warns the nation's $40 trillion debt remains a major unresolved issue.
HHS Seeks Public Input on Electromagnetic Fields and Wireless Radiation
HHS issued a Request for Information (RFI) calling on Americans, scientists, physicians, industry, and public health experts to submit evidence and information on the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields.
Burna Boy to headline NFL halftime show in Paris
Burna Boy for 'Global Citizen Live.' (ABC)Burna Boy will take the stage at the NFL's debut in France.The Nigerian Afro-fusion singer was named as the headline performer for the NFL's Paris Game on Oct. 25 at Stade de France, in an exclusive announcement on Good Morning America Thursday morning.The NFL Paris Game will be the first NFL game played in France, and one of a record nine international games played this season.The Paris Game, played between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints, is one of seven international games that will feature a halftime show this season.Burna Boy, a native of Nigeria and the artist behind songs such as "Last Last" and "Love," shared a statement on the event in a release from the NFL regarding the show."The NFL is bringing something to France that has never happened here before, and I get to stand in the middle of it representing African music and I intend to give the people a show they will not forget," he stated.Tim Tubito, senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment at the NFL, said in a statement, "Paris is one of the great cultural capitals of the world, and African music sits right at the heart of what the city listens to."The Jonas Brothers, Pedro Sampaio and Ricky Martin, Ayra Starr, Cage The Elephant and The Warning have already been announced as international game performers at NFL games this season, according to the release.Rio de Janeiro and Paris will both see NFL games for the first time this year, while London, Madrid, Munich and Mexico City will return as hosts this season. Melbourne also hosted their first NFL game earlier this season.The Paris Game will air Sunday, Oct. 25, at 9:30 a.m. ET on the NFL Network.Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
UWF professor’s work with chemical science students earns major national recognition
University of West Florida professor Dr. Karen Molek received the American Chemical Society's Dreyfus Award for her work in encouraging economically disadvantaged students to pursue careers in chemica...
Pella Corp. hires new operations executive
Pella Corp. has named Rob Adams executive vice president of operations, effective Sept. 14. Adams, who has more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing, industrial products and consumer goods, most recently served as senior vice president and chief manufacturing and supply chain officer for American Woodmark Corp. In his new role, Adams will lead…
What your dog really thinks about you
Science is helping to peel back the layers of how dogs process the world around them
1 in 3 Americans with health insurance have medical debt, survey finds
Scientists name a new cat species for the first time in over a century
The South American tiger cat is not one species but five distinct species, a new study finds.
MDI Health Celebrates Community at 2026 Annual Meeting
BAR HARBOR—MDI Health celebrated the people and partnerships strengthening local healthcare during its 2026 Annual Meeting and Community Celebration, held September 15 at the Bar Harbor Club. The gathering brought together patients, medical staff, employees, trustees, volunteers, supporters, and community partners to recognize the year’s accomplishments and honor those whose contributions make a meaningful difference across the organization and the communities it serves. “This celebration is an opportunity to recognize the extraordinary people who make our work possible,” said Chrissi Maguire, president and CEO of MDI Health. “Their compassion, dedication, and belief in strong local healthcare can be felt throughout our hospital, health centers, Birch Bay Village, and the communities we serve.” During the celebration, MDI Health presented its 2026 Impact Award to Mount Desert Nursing Association (MDNA), recognizing the organization as Community Partner of the Year for providing compassionate, skilled in-home nursing care across Mount Desert Island, Trenton, and Lamoine. “MDNA extends care beyond our walls, helping people remain safely at home, surrounded by the people and places they know and love,” Maguire said. “Its work lies at the intersection of healthcare and community and strengthens our entire healthcare system.” “For 77 years, MDNA has helped our neighbors recover and remain safely at home,” said Amy McVety, MDNA Executive Director. “Our longstanding partnership with MDI Health helps ensure a seamless transition from hospital to home and the continued care patients need. We are grateful for this recognition and especially proud of our talented, hardworking team.” The evening marked a transition in Board leadership. Martha Wagner, PhD, was recognized as she concluded her term as chair of the MDI Health Board of Trustees. Madeleine Braun, PhD, MBA, was introduced as incoming chair. “It is an honor to build on Martha’s leadership and serve an organization so deeply connected to this community,” Braun said. Individual honorees recognized during the evening’s program included Nancy D’Agostino, MDI Health Volunteer of the Year; George Rossi, Birch Bay Village Volunteer of the Year; Marc Woolfolk, Birch Bay Village Employee of the Year; and Beth Applebee, MDI Hospital Employee of the Year. “These honorees represent the very best of who we are,” Maguire said. The program also highlighted new initiatives and honors from the past year. MDI Health launched a free Screening Mammogram Scholarship Program to remove financial barriers to early detection, supported by a generous grant from the Maine Cancer Foundation. An in-hospital food pantry has been opened to meet rising community need and address the link between nutrition and health. MDI Health earned CMS five-star ratings for Patient Experience and Nurse Communication, top marks in the 2026–2027 Lown Institute Hospitals Index, recognition from the American Hospital Association and American Heart Association, and a third consecutive Best Places to Work in Maine designation. The hospital will open its new Main Entrance this fall, as work advances on the expanded Emergency Department and other patient-care spaces. The Building Our Future Campaign has raised more than $56 million in capital and programmatic support to date. “Everything we have accomplished reflects the strength of this community,” Maguire said. “We are grateful to everyone who has contributed their time, talent, leadership, and support to help MDI Health continue meeting the evolving needs of the region.” Subscribe Share Leave a comment