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Squadron 42 Storms Onto Steam With Surprisingly Low Minimum PC Requirements, but Fans Still Face a Wait Until Q2 2027
Cloud Imperium Games has opened Squadron 42's Steam page and released a new trailer, while some fans and content creators played the game.
Scientists Discover a Hidden Hydrogen Pathway That Could Transform CO2 Into Valuable Fuel
Scientists have uncovered an unexpected pathway for hydrogen transfer during catalytic CO2 conversion. A computer model designed to predict how carbon dioxide becomes useful chemicals produced a surprising error: It identified formic acid as the main product instead of methanol. When scientists expanded the model to account for thousands of previously overlooked reactions, its predictions
Test your pop culture: From Hollywood to the Heartland
From a surprising Marilyn Monroe family connection to candid revelations about Hollywood relationships, see how closely you followed this week's entertainment headlines.
Film Review: 'Ray Gunn' is a Visually Rich and Surprisingly Effective Science Fiction Neo Noir from Brad Bird
Awards Radar seeks to provide objective, thoughtful, and wide-ranging coverage of the awards season, as well as the entertainment world in general
One Surprising Area Where Georgia Could Have Advantage Over Alabama
The Georgia Bulldogs are headed into their biggest game of the season tonight.
Rare ‘pumpkin spice’ baby sea turtle spotted in Florida
‘This little one, surprisingly, had an earthy tone of autumn.’
Ancient DNA Links Attila’s Huns to the Elite of a Lost Mongolian Empire
Ancient DNA traces the Huns' journey from Mongolia to Europe. But this wasn't straightforward.
The Science Of Fever Dreams: When We’re Sick, Our Dreams Can Get Extra Weird
There are some surprisingly recurrent themes in our fever dreams.
The midterm Senate fight spreads to a surprising new battleground
Republicans are suddenly racing to defend a seat in Kansas, where Democrats are trying to win a Senate race for the first time in nearly a century.
Minnesota Vikings Receive Surprising Update for New Orleans Saints Matchup
As Justin Jefferson returns to practice, a fresh hamstring injury to Jordan Addison threatens to derail Minnesota’s stagnant offense ahead of a critical clash with New Orleans.
In Deep-Red Kansas, a Surprisingly Competitive Senate Race Takes Shape
Adam Hamilton wants to be the first Democrat to win a Senate seat there in nearly 100 years.
Ex-Saints QB Suddenly Released by Eagles
In a successful and well-traveled NFL career, Andy Dalton had a stop with the New Orleans Saints. It wasn’t the most memorable or the longest, but it was substantial time on the field for “The Red Rifle” with the Saints. It came to mind again on Friday, when the Philadelphia Eagles surprisingly released Dalton after […] The post Ex-Saints QB Suddenly Released by Eagles appeared first on HEAVY.
Netflix’s Summer of Bummer
(Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industry and business strategy. I write a weekly Streaming Ratings Report and a bi-weekly strategy column, along with occasional deep dives into other topics, like today’s article. Please subscribe.) Today, I’ve got a guest post from longtime friend of the newsletter, Brandon Katz. I’ve been trying to find time all summer to look at Netflix’s straight-to-streaming film slate, but between a pre-planned trip and Nielsen moving up their streaming data timeline, I’ve been swamped. So I reached out to Brandon, one of my favorite fellow analysts, to write about it. And I feel like he captured the tone and data focus of the newsletter perfectly. You can connect with Brandon on LinkedIn and Twitter. Enjoy! Don’t worry, folks. You’re in safe hands with me. To ease any anxieties about an interloper in ESG’s domain, I’ll start by stealing one of his best framing devices: headlines. Box office flops are covered in the same way the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles eye pizza: with cartoonish insatiability. I would know. I’m a former reporter who wrote nearly identical headlines: Yet, intentionally or not, streaming misses get treated with kids gloves, filtered through a rosy lens: In the last six years, U.S. streaming viewership has become nearly as transparent as the box office, but the data often arrives weeks later, in a number of less intuitive metrics, and with nary an official budget to be found. This plays into the Wall Street-whispering narratives major streamers have been cultivating for years. They get a pass in a way that theatrical studios simply don’t. Subscribe Netflix’s Summer Slate Not a single Netflix original film released between May and August this year opened above 20 million U.S. TV hours, per Nielsen. That benchmark usually serves as the EntStrategyGuy’s floor for a streaming hit on Netflix. None of these films enjoyed a hit-cementing single week of 20-plus million hours during their runs. Netflix’s two best films were true crime docs, Maternal Instinct (16.5 million hours) and The Crash (19.7 million), the best overall week for a film this summer. Great for most other streamers, but not necessarily what we’re used to seeing from Netflix. For an overly-dramatic comparison, Happy Gilmore 2 opened last summer to around 47 million hours (celebrity cameos, baby!). Zooming out, the picture looks even worse. In 2026, Netflix’s five biggest scripted summer films posted the lowest average (28.6 million hours) and median (28.8 million hours) eight-week viewership totals of the past four years. Now, it’s unrealistic and unfair to expect Netflix to deliver a _KPop Demon Hunters-_sized hit every year. But it’s also not ideal to see the size of their hits shrinking over the last few summers. Let’s quickly run through some of the notable summer misses. Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein’s perfectly fine romcom, Office Romance, fell off the charts after 20 million hours in its first two weeks. Top films usually last for four-plus weeks. Starry titles ideally don’t decay that fast either. Homegrown star Millie Bobby Brown couldn’t prevent the snappy Enola Holmes franchise from diminishing returns. At 14.3 million U.S. hours, the third film posted roughly half of what the first two films did in their first two weeks. What’s on Netflix calculated that per-day global views were down nearly 60% from the second movie. The Whisper Man did okay with more than 36 million hours over its first four weeks. But I expected a little more juice from a film featuring Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, and Adam Scott. Kevin Hart’s Ladies First collected just 11.2 million hours total across two weeks. That’s a big miss for one of Netflix’s go-to stars. Plopping into the same bucket are Sunny Sandler’s Don’t Say Good Luck (10.3 million in two weeks) and John Cena’s Little Brother (17.5 million). Meanwhile, English-language originals Color Book (June 19), In the Hand of Dante (June 24) and Heartstopper Forever (July 17) never sniffed Nielsen’s Top 10 at all, despite needing only 2 to 5 million hours to land in the top ten most weeks. (By my count, eleven English-language scripted original films released between May and August did chart). It’s only fair to mention that Swapped (1-May) posted nearly 42 million U.S. hours over five weeks (the longest Netflix original run this summer) and is currently their eighth most-watched English-language film ever worldwide. Remarkably Bright Creatures (37 million, 4 weeks) and Voicemails for Isabelle (27 million, 4 weeks) weren’t bombs either. Still, overall, I think it’s fair to say this was a quieter summer season than we’re used to seeing from the market-leader. You might not realize that given the language commonly used in public analysis. The Twist Despite the starkly black-and-white tone of the coverage, here’s the twist: when many box office bombs arrive on streaming, their viewership looks a whole lot like many of Netflix’s supposedly successful summer releases. Hmm, where have we heard that one before? Masters of the Universe topped out at $65 million stateside against a $170 million budget_._ I’ll admit, Skeletor ripping sleeveless curls as a gym bro and bodyslamming Adam’s co-workers was funny. But, much to the chagrin of my bank account, my laughter doesn’t launch franchises. Yet the He-Man reboot opened to 19.6 million hours (from a Wednesday five-day opening instead of just one weekend), on par with Hoppers on Disney+ (19.4 million). It put up nearly 47 million hours over its first six weeks, bigger than all of Netflix’s summer releases. Pretty darn healthy and likely to land among the 25 most-watched movies on streaming this year. Sticking with Amazon, The Sheep Detectives just barely broke even at the box office with $133 million worldwide (and only $66 million domestic). I never expected cloven-hooved, cud-chewing mammals to be able to bring me to tears. Yet that’s exactly how I found myself at the end of this surprisingly affecting movie (#NoShame). It was likely the unexpected quality in a family-friendly film that powered its streaming over-performance. Sheep Detectives delivered a solid run for Prime video netting 26.2 million hours! How about franchise IP? Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu had the lowest opening ($81 million) and lowest-grossing Disney-era live-action Star Wars film ($178 million domestic). One day before release, its Heat score (19.8%)—audiences who list their interest as a 7/7—fell behind blockbusters Wicked (21%), Superman (23%), Fantastic Four: First Steps (23%), Michael (23%), Toy Story 5 (26%) and Avatar: Fire and Ash (27%), according to Greenlight Analytics. The urgent enthusiasm just wasn’t there. On streaming, Mando opened to weeks of 12.1 million, 6.1 million and 2.7 million hours (21 million total) over its first three frames. Not the numbers Lucasfilm was hoping for nor the numbers of a streaming hit. But they’re in the same vicinity as some Netflix summer releases with $345 million at the global box office to offset a smidgen of the pain. Final Thoughts So why oh why does this nuance gap exist? Four key reasons: Data Literacy: A “$100 million opening” just makes sense. After decades of box office reporting, even casual movie fans are well-versed in the benchmarks of hits and home runs. There’s an immediate shorthand. But “16.5 million” hours doesn’t land nearly as cleanly. Despite leaps of progress, the streaming ratings era is still in its infancy compared to theatrical. The EntStrategyGuy and I met thanks to a late 2010s group chat of data nerds hungry to find a shred of certainty in nebulous streaming performance. I’m not surprised to see “No. 1 on Netflix” still getting misconstrued out in the wild. Timing: By Friday morning, we have the box office’s Thursday night previews totaled, allowing us to better project the weekend’s expectations. From there, ticket sales are reported daily. By Sunday, the film’s fate is usually finalized, at least in terms of public perception. In streaming, Nielsen recently improved its delay to…two weeks. The medium isn’t forced to contend with instant gratification as harshly. Financials: Theatrical film budgets are a mere Google away. Profit and loss is calculated in the cold and unforgiving naked light of day for all to see. But finding the vast majority of streaming exclusive movie budgets requires the forensic investigation skills of a Criminal Minds detective. Also, it’s very difficult to calculate how much revenue/value a straight-to-streaming films provides a streamer. This is why there are so few stories about streaming original movies “losing X amount of money”. On top of that, marketing budgets are far greater for theatrical movies than streaming exclusive movies, which leads to earlier and better awareness. This then translates to a wider pool of potential interest. Narrative Control: Netflix is the only major streaming service to publish weekly first-hand viewership data and annual engagement reports. Naturally, some headlines borrow their first-hand framing**.** Other streamers benefit from their comparative lack of transparency. They may occasionally announce vague performance platitudes such as Apple TV’s Mayday becoming its “biggest film debut on the platform to date over its first 18 days,” and that it ranked No. 1 with left-handed viewers in its first weekend. (Fine, I made up that second one). But, for the most part, they keep first-hand viewership shrouded in mystery to avoid bad press. Especially for outlets that demand multiple articles per day from their writers, it’s an easy (and understandable) way for some reporters to hit their daily article quota by just repeating what the streamers have told them. TL:DR version: Streaming-exclusive movies are asked to do different things than theatrical movies, but that doesn’t mean they should escape judgment. Both still need to draw enough eyeballs to justify their cost within the proper performance contexts. The more cleanly we can inject a little nuance into streaming analysis, the better we’ll understand the audience and content trends that drive this industry. And that’s what all of this is really about: knowing what audiences actually want! Brandon Katz is the Director of Insights & Content Strategy at Greenlight Analytics where he focuses on evaluating the ever-fluid media landscape to unearth understanding, opportunity and value. Greenlight Analytics is the entertainment intelligence consulting company redefining how Hollywood finds, understands, and activates audiences. Prior to joining Greenlight Analytics, he served as the senior entertainment industry strategist at Parrot Analytics, and as a full-time entertainment industry reporter covering the Xs and Os of Hollywood, most notably with TheWrap and the Observer.
Could dragons have ever existed? Science has a surprising answer
Dragons appear in stories as enormous reptilian creatures with wings, claws, armored bodies and, in many traditions, the ability to breathe fire. Science has found no evidence that an animal matching ...
Caitlin Clark finishes behind surprising rookie in WNBA MVP voting
Thje Fever guard was not the runner-up in WNBA MVP voting.
Skydance's Gerhard Zeiler, Warner Bros President International, Exits
"It is surprisingly difficult to find the right words to say goodbye," the Austrian writes in an internal memo obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. "At the end of next week, I will leave the company."
Why Weight Lifting Is Good for Your Heart
Strength training isn’t just for muscle and bone health — it’s also surprisingly good cardio.
These 10 albums have surprising ties to cults and unconventional religions
Every religion has a musical tradition no matter how small the church or strange the belief. Some of this music was recruitment propaganda, some was not. Either way, fringe faiths among musicians is not a new phenomenon.
'Freakish' discovery of 9 million-year-old capybara tooth supports idea that Atacama wasn't always a desert
A 9 million-year-old capybara tooth was found in the Atacama Desert, a surprising find given that these rodents love water.
Eagles’ Pass Rusher Emerges as Potential Trade Candidate Before Deadline
The Philadelphia Eagles and general manager Howie Roseman have never shied away from being active in NFL trade discussions. Over the years, Roseman has had one of the more aggressive mindsets in the trade market. With the 2026 NFL trade deadline coming up after Week 9, it would not be surprising to hear the Eagles […] The post Eagles’ Pass Rusher Emerges as Potential Trade Candidate Before Deadline appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.
Physical Sales Of Wolverine Estimated To Be Surprisingly High For A Company That's About To Ditch Discs
What would it take for Sony to walk the controversial move back?
Trump, a Cowboy and a Science Guy: Who’s taking sides in Senate race
Ken Paxton and James Talarico are drawing support from politicians, sports stars, entertainers and some surprising crossovers.
The surprising new idea that is reshaping how we think about ADHD
Scientists are starting to uncover the links between being a night owl and some neuropsychiatric conditions.
Vonn surprisingly named to US alpine skiing World Cup squad
The United States ski federation has surprisingly named Lindsey Vonn for their main team for this season's alpine skiing World Cup. Vonn is among 17 athletes nominated to the US squad on Wednesday evening.
Debra Messing backs GOP NY gov candidate in political shift
‘The Five’ co-hosts discuss ‘Will & Grace’ star Debra Messing’s surprising political shift after a long period of support for Democrats.
This surprising mammal fossil is giving scientists something to chew on
It's likely you've already chewed and swallowed some tasty morsel today. But when did that ability emerge? New evidence points to at least the middle Jurassic, back when dinosaurs still reigned.
People on weight-loss drugs report fingernails falling off as researchers uncover surprising link
Nail discoloration was reported by 46% of GLP-1 users versus 17% of non-users, while scalp inflammation accompanied hair loss in most medication users studied.
iOS 27.2 release date: New iPhone features are coming soon
iOS 27.2 is coming surprisingly soon, with iOS 27.1 focusing solely on iPhone Duo changes, Here’s when to expect the update’s release.
Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson react to ‘DWTS’ judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s claim his ‘joy’ is gone
Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson addressed ‘DWTS’ judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s surprising comment about his lack of ‘joy’ after his ‘Mariah Carey Night’ performance.
Webb finds a surprising atmosphere on a scorching lava world
The James Webb Space Telescope has found strong evidence that the rocky lava world HD 3167 b has an atmosphere, despite circling its star every 24 hours under extreme heat. The surprising discovery could help scientists understand how rocky planets retain atmospheres and what the young, molten Earth may once have looked like.
Physicists just found the ‘ghost’ of superconductivity
Physicists have found striking evidence for an unusual form of superconducting behavior in uranium ditelluride, where electron pairs organize into rippling patterns called pair density waves. Even more surprisingly, these patterns appear to survive after ordinary superconductivity disappears, suggesting that the electron pairs responsible for superconductivity may begin forming before the material actually becomes superconducting.
The moderate money network quietly reshaping Utah Republican politics
A surprising coalition is building a new campaign engine at the local level. Who’s behind it?
“NCIS” showrunner unpacks Michael Weatherly’s surprising season 24 return
We’ve never seen Tony like this before.
Angus Taylor’s immigration plan misses the target – on politics and on policy
The most surprising aspect of the Coalition’s policy is that in six pages of detail there is not a single mention of the labour market
Jazz Chisholm Jr. Has Surprising Response After Costly Yankees Error
The New York Yankees are staring at another postseason deficit, and the way they got there feels painfully familiar. New York committed three errors against the first four batters in the bottom of the first inning Monday night in Game 2 of the American League Division Series, immediately putting itself in trouble. And one of…
Hornets Land Curious Win Total Entering 2026-27 NBA Season
The Charlotte Hornets have been given a surprising win total prediction coming into the new season.
Catalytic confessions and a quest for Matt Damon: PodCAT puts science on mic
PodCAT, hosted by researchers from Rice, the University of Rochester and Penn State University, is a podcast devoted to the science of catalysis, academic careers and the surprisingly personal stories of the researchers themselves.
Goodbye joint replacements? Stanford scientists found a way to regrow cartilage and stop arthritis
Scientists have found a surprising way to regrow damaged knee cartilage by blocking a protein that becomes more abundant with age. In old mice, the treatment restored naturally lost cartilage and also helped prevent osteoarthritis after ACL-like knee injuries, while human cartilage taken from knee replacement patients began producing new, functional joint cartilage after exposure to the same inhibitor.
Trump’s midterm messaging undercuts GOP candidates
Many Republican candidates have found themselves in surprisingly competitive races
Trump’s midterm messaging undercuts GOP candidates
Many Republican candidates have found themselves in surprisingly competitive races
Your Brain Under Anesthesia Behaves Surprisingly Like a Worm's, Scientists Discover
A shared experience of oblivion.
Florida earns 'F' grade from CBS Sports after Missouri beatdown
Unsurprisingly, Florida football earned a failing grade from CBS Sports for its performance against the Missouri Tigers on the road in Week 5.
Can we harness the brain's deep-cleaning system to prevent Alzheimer's?
The glymphatic system is the brain's recently discovered network for flushing out toxins. Now, we're uncovering surprising ways to boost it to protect brain health
Galaxy S27 Ultra colors leak, and Samsung could be breaking up with purple
Leaked Galaxy S27 Ultra colors suggest Samsung is retiring Deep Purple for another, surprising shade of color.
Earth Shifted Quickly On Its Axis Four Times In Last 320 Million Years, Including When Dinosaurs Reigned
Frankly, it’s surprising the dinosaurs didn’t get dizzy.
The Surprising AI-Driven Tailwinds For BPO Growth
The market is understandably focused on the headwinds that artificial intelligence creates for the services industry.
Scientists Find a Surprising Link Between Cats And Happiness Across 93 Countries
A purr-fect pet friend?
Chiefs-Raiders: Mike Caliendo starts over Kingsley Suamataia
Kansas City had a surprising change in the offensive starting lineup in Las Vegas.
Ethan Hawke names surprising thriller co-starring ex Uma Thurman as his breakout: ‘Changed my life’
If you ask Ethan Hawke, it wasn’t ‘Dead Poets Society’ or ‘Reality Bites’ that gave him his big break — it was this under-seen, experimental thriller from a master of indie cinema that made him a star.
How Americans’ Financial Health Is Faring In The “K-Shaped” Economy
Hey all, Jason here. Money20/20 is still two weeks away, but I’ve already started packing (not procrastinating for once!). My calendar is already filling up with various sessions I want to catch, meetings, and of course happy hours, dinners, and other side events. If you’ll be in Vegas and want to catch up, let me know by replying to this email, and we can try to find a time amidst the chaos of the Venetian. A big if not totally unexpected piece of news dropped on Friday: the Independent Community Bankers of America, a trade group that represents smaller U.S. banks, filed a lawsuit against the OCC and Comptroller Jonathan Gould, arguing that the regulator’s move to grant trust bank charters to firms seeking to use them to conduct substantial non-fiduciary activities exceeds the authorities granted to the OCC by Congress. I haven’t had time to fully digest the legal filing or speak to folks in my network about it, but you can expect to see coverage and analysis on it in next week’s newsletter. Subscribe or Support by Upgrading The NerdCon agenda just dropped. It’s stacked. Partner content: Nubank built an AI-first bank. Chime built its own banking core. Figure and Valon are rebuilding the mortgage stack. At NerdCon, you’ll hear from the people behind those bets: what they chose, what they learned, and what they’re still figuring out. The agenda is live, with leaders from Nubank, Chime, OpenAI, Remitly, Mercury, Figure, Valon and more. Follow the mainstage conversations, bring the problem your team is wrestling with to a hands-on workshop, or pull up a chair at a roundtable. Pick your quests. Meet us in San Diego, November 18–20. Fintech Business Weekly readers save 20% with code FBW20. Explore the Agenda Things To Know & Other Good Reads Federal Reserve Board finalizes changes to enhance the transparency and public accountability of its stress test and reduce volatility in its stress test-related capital requirements (Federal Reserve Board of Governors) FDIC Announces Conclusion of Independent Monitorship (FDIC) Modernizing Financial Regulation: Initial Observations from eSLR (Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman) The Data Version of Godzilla versus Kong: FRED Takes on AI (Fed Governor Christopher Waller) Financing the AI buildout (Brookings) Q3’26: Rules for Banks but Not for Crypto (Fintech Takes Banking) The Inevitability of Local Stablecoins (Lombard Notes) Delusions of AI Governance: The Human-in-the-Loop Comfort Blanket (Fintech Snark Tank) Stripe agrees to acquire Parafin to expand revenue opportunities for platforms and help small businesses grow (Stripe) Listen: Fighting Fraud in the Age of AI, with SEON’s Tamas Kadar (Fintech Business Weekly) How Americans’ Financial Health Is Faring In The “K-Shaped” Economy If there is one overarching theme across the economy and politics in the U.S. at the moment, it’s “affordability.” The term is vague enough to encompass a panoply of factors shaping Americans’ day-to-day lives: rising costs for the hallmarks of being “middle class,” including healthcare, housing, childcare, and education, inflation and rising interest rates, and a job market with the specter of AI hovering over it. At the same time, policy shifts under the Trump administration have resulted in reduced subsidies to those who get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act and new restrictions on qualifying for Medicaid and SNAP, the impacts of which have yet to be fully felt. These factors are contributing to declining consumer confidence and general dissatisfaction with the economy, despite continuing GDP growth and stock market records. This divergence is encapsulated in the idea of the “K-shaped” economy, in which a small proportion of Americans have seen their wealth balloon, while the majority of American households struggle to preserve the lifestyle they have. Perhaps the greatest determinant of which branch of the “K” a household is on is whether their wealth and income are primarily derived from employment vs. from assets. Nearly two decades of low interest rates and, more recently, elevated rates of inflation have benefited asset owners, while those whose income is primarily or solely derived from labor have largely seen real purchasing power stagnate or decline. This is reflected in recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing that labor share of U.S. GDP — the fraction of economic output that accrues to workers as compensation in exchange for their labor — dropped to just 52.8% in Q2 2026, the lowest since the BLS began keeping records. In 1947, approximately 2/3rds of economic output accrued to workers; even as recently as 2001, labor’s share of GDP was 64.1%. Against this backdrop, we’ve seen the rise of more credit and credit-like products: cash advance apps, “no-fee” overdraft, earned wage access, and buy now pay later, which are often used as small-dollar short-term borrowing mechanisms to meet immediate consumption needs or pay other bills (eg utilities, cell phone, other debt payments). With the markers of a middle class existence and, increasingly, basic financial stability seemingly out of reach for many, it should be no surprise there’s been an increase in “financial nihilism,” something industry peers like Alex Johnson and Frank Rotman have discussed and analyzed the roots of. The explosion of gambling and gambling-adjacent products and services — often marketed under the guise of being an “investment” — is inextricably intertwined with the rise of financial nihilism. Crypto, sports betting, and, more recently, prediction markets offer an escape or even hope of sorts, like a contemporary, digital version of a scratch-off lottery ticket, while leaving the overwhelming number of people who use such products worse off. Share of Households That Are Financially “Vulnerable” Ticks Up The Financial Health Network’s 2026 Financial Health Pulse® report adds context on how American households are faring. (I linked to this report in last week’s newsletter, but wanted to take time to further unpack the data in the report this week.) The Financial Health Network publishes the report annually, providing insight into how Americans’ financial circumstances are changing over time. The 2026 report is derived from a survey fielded in April and May 2026. The report leverages survey responses to assess indicators of financial health across spending, saving, borrowing, and planning/protecting and to determine a zero to 100 “FinHealth” score. Those with scores between 0 and 39 are considered “Financially Vulnerable,” consumers with scores ranging between 40 and 79 are defined as “Financially Coping,” and those with scores of 80 to 100 are “Financially Healthy.” The report found that moderate improvements in 2025 were reversed, with the share of respondents considered financially “vulnerable” rebounding to 17%. The longitudinal data reflect the impact of pandemic-era programs, like expanded unemployment, cash stimulus payments, and pauses of federal student loan payments. The positive impacts of those programs, as reflected in the Financial Health Pulse reports, had largely disappeared by 2023. While pandemic-era inflation — to be fair, in part caused by the various support and stimulus measures — had come down from as high as 9% in 2022, it has rebounded since the start of Trump’s second term, with tariffs and energy market disruptions owing to the war in Iran pushing prices back up. Specific indicators in the survey that deteriorated from 2025 to 2026 include the share of respondents spending less than their income over the past 12 months, the share paying all bills on time over the past 12 months, the share that have a manageable amount or no debt, the share that are “moderately” or “very” confident their insurance is adequate to cover them in an emergency, and the share that “somewhat” or “strongly” agree that their household plans ahead financially. Unsurprisingly, lower- and moderate-income households are more likely to struggle to pay their bills on time and have any funds leftover to save. The share of low-income households whose income exceeded their spending dropped from 35% in 2025 to 31% in 2026, while the share of upper-income households whose income exceeded expenses remained unchanged at 63%. Households with student loans or revolving credit card debt reported having “a bit more” or “far more” debt than was manageable at rates far higher than those not carrying these types of debts. The share of those with student loan debt indicating their debt load was too high to manage increased from 50% in 2025 to 55% in 2026, while the share of those with revolving credit card debt saying the same ticked up from 51% in 2025 to 54% in 2026. Households that had student loans were markedly more likely to be financially “coping” or “vulnerable” vs. those without student loans. In 2026, 27% of households with student loans were considered financially vulnerable, a jump of 6% points vs. 2025. Households without student loans saw just a 1% point increase (not statistically significant) in those considered financially vulnerable. Households’ perception of the affordability of categories of goods and services paints a stark picture, with less than one-fourth considering higher education affordable, about a third deeming childcare affordable, and less than half viewing healthcare as affordable. Fintech Business Weekly is made possible by the generous support of paying subscribers — bringing you independent analysis of banking, fintech, and crypto without fear or favor. You can support my work by becoming a paying subscriber if you aren’t already. Paying subscribers enjoy: access to the entire archive of nearly six years of newsletters extended versions of the weekly newsletter, with additional content and analysis and (for founding member tier) quarterly personal 1:1 fintech Q&A / strategy calls with me, tapping into my unparalleled knowledge of the intersection of banking and fintech and experience working in the sector, including helping to launch Goldman Sachs’ retail bank Marcus Support Fintech Business Weekly You can also support Fintech Business Weekly by sponsoring a newsletter or podcast, putting you in front of 93,000+ of the most influential decision makers in banking, fintech, and crypto. Learn more about sponsor opportunities or request a media kit by dropping me an email. Democratic Senate Report Highlights How Iran Uses Tether to Evade U.S. Sanctions Iran uses stablecoins, specifically Tether, to evade sanctions, fund regional proxies, and to purchase military drones, a report released last week by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations says. The report was authored by committee ranking member Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and the minority staff. Crypto and stablecoin proponents will often push back on criticism that criminals make use of these assets by arguing that, on an absolute dollar basis, far more illicit funds flow through traditional banking systems and payment rails than via crypto and stablecoins. And while that is likely true, it elides the reality presented in news story after news story: whether state actors — Russia, Iran, North Korea — or criminal groups, those looking to engage in illicit transactions increasingly favor stablecoins and, specifically, Tether (USDT). The report from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations released last week adds context to how Iran uses Tether has a lynchpin in its shadow banking system. The report analyzed 846 wallets that have been sanctioned or targeted for seizure, finding that 84% of them transacted exclusively or primarily in Tether. The ability to create near limitless, anonymous wallets and to move funds effectively instantaneously and irreversibly have made crypto a favored financial mechanism for bad actors. Stablecoins solved key drawbacks of bitcoin, namely, the original cryptocurrency’s highly volatile value in dollars. And while Tether (the company) has the technical ability to “freeze” or destroy funds, the company is often limited and reactive in its approach to doing so, the Senate report argues. Tether, which is nominally based in crypto-friendly El Salvador, “has stated that its compliance with OFAC sanctions is ‘voluntary’ and that it follows ‘OFAC guidelines,’” the Senate report says. Owing to these favorable attributes, Tether “became a primary cryptocurrency for Iran, Hamas, Hizballah, and the Houthis beginning in 2023 and has expanded in scale since,” according to the report. Tether’s role in Iran’s shadow banking system, the report says, is enhanced by crypto exchanges like Bybit, Kyrrex, OKX, Gate, and Binance, and through “over the counter” exchanges and hawala networks. The consequences of these financial flows aren’t hypothetical. The Senate report links Tether as a funds transfer mechanism to Iranian proxies in the region, including Hizballah, the Houthis, and Hamas. Tether has also been used to make payments to secure components necessary to manufacture drones, the report says. The report concludes by arguing that “[s]tablecoin issuers with a significant nexus to the United States, particularly those that offer dollar-denominated stablecoins, should be subject to American sanctions law rather than being allowed to hide behind foreign jurisdictions.” Stablecoin issuers like Tether must be held accountable for repeated failures to prevent illicit finance and sanctions violations by law enforcement, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and OFAC, the report argues. [Paying Subscriber Exclusive] OUSD Goes Live, Make Your Own Neobank, U.S. Sanctions Russia’s A7 Network As “Transnational Criminal Organization” OpenUSD, the stablecoin issued by the Open Standard consortium that includes Stripe, Visa, Mastercard, core providers, crypto firms, and numerous banks, went live last week. Social commerce platform Whop raised eyebrows in fintech by offering creators on its platform the ability to launch their own neobanks, which the company describes as “great businesses that are easy to run,” in just 15 minutes. And OFAC and FinCEN target Russia’s “shadow banking” A7 Network — more on these stories after the paywall.
Singing With Other People May Have Surprising Health Benefits
Skip the cold plunge. Join your local choir instead!
Decaf Coffee Might Have A Surprising Advantage Over Caffeinated, Study Finds
A buzz without the buzz.
Grizzlies' Versatility Could Be Their Secret Weapon in 2026-27
Memphis may not be ready to contend yet, but its size, lineup flexibility, and positionless young core could make the Grizzlies surprisingly competitive.
The surprising real cause of prediabetes (and how to reverse it)
You can reverse the slide towards type 2 diabetes if you catch it early enough and make the right lifestyle changes
📸 This week's kit news 👕
Official announcements, leaks... it’s been another week full of news in the world of football kits.On the agenda: PSG’s likely next kit, as well as Liverpool’s surprising kits for next season.��...
Chang’e-6 lunar soil contains a surprising magnetic time capsule
Scientists studying Chang’e-6 lunar soil have discovered a previously unknown magnetic mineral in natural Moon samples: a form of metallic iron called γ-Fe. Found inside tiny impact-glass particles, the nanoscale iron can preserve a stable magnetic signal, potentially acting like a microscopic fossil of the Moon’s long-lost magnetic field.
Democrats dream of putting Florida back in play. Are they squandering their chance?
Democrats have struggled to compete in the state for years, but a surprisingly tight race for governor has their hopes up — despite a huge financial deficit.
The most surprising things about Etihad's new first and business class
Etihad is bringing a new Airbus aircraft to its fleet in 2027, and I got an early look at its premium seats. Here's what future passengers can expect.
In New Hampshire Senate race, the Democrat faces an unusually tough time
The race’s competitiveness is somewhat surprising in a state that former Vice President Kamala Harris carried by 2.8 percentage points in 2024.
Mars’ North Polar Ice Is Much Cleaner Than Scientists Thought
Beneath the dusty surface of Mars’ north pole, scientists have uncovered surprisingly clean layers of ice that may preserve a hidden record of the planet’s dramatic climate history. Earth maintains a relatively steady posture in space thanks to the gravitational anchor of a massive moon. Mars lacks that stability. Tugged only by two tiny moons,
Scientists Untangle the Biology of an ‘Undruggable’ Cancer Gene
Found in 70 percent of cancers, the gene is seen as a grand orchestrator but has been surprisingly difficult to stop.
Browns win battle with Steelers but are losing war with Deshaun Watson
The Browns are surprisingly in first place in the AFC North. That should be good news, but let's fast forward a bit, writes columnist Nate Davis.
‘I Was Dealing With a Lot,’ ‘It Was Hard’ — Browns QB Deshaun Watson Opens Up About Bouncing Back From Mental Health Struggles
Deshaun Watson worked his way back from tearing his right Achilles twice to earn his starting quarterback job and lead the Browns to a surprising 2-1 start in 2026. Watson spoke with Taylor Rooks about how he overcame these obstacles mentally and bounced back from potentially career-altering injuries.
What Does Your Office Say About Your Business? by Jennifer Kraner
What does your space say about you and your business? More importantly, does it give you the best possible first impression? The minute a client, customer or patient walks through your door, they’re forming an opinion about your business – sometimes consciously, sometimes without even realizing it. Your space is communicating something about you, whether you intend it to or not. At Big Sky Design, we work with all kinds of commercial businesses, including many medical practices, law firms and other corporate offices, and I’ve seen first hand how much thoughtful design can influence that first impression. For businesses in medical, legal, and financial fields, three things are particularly important: trust, privacy and professionalism. Your space should communicate all three while also reflecting who you are as a business. That can be challenging, especially in a new construction project. Often, so much of the budget goes toward the actual construction that things like lighting, comfortable seating, artwork and finishing touches get pushed to the side. But those are often the elements that make a space feel complete – and memorable. Think about your waiting room. Is it comfortable? Is the lighting welcoming? Does the layout make sense? When someone walks through the door, do they immediately know where to go and whom to speak with? In a medical office, there’s another important consideration: privacy. Reception areas can become surprisingly noisy places, with phone calls, conversations between staff and patients, and people discussing personal information. Hard surfaces throughout a space allow sound to bounce around, making it difficult to maintain privacy. We recently worked with an eye doctor's office that had exactly this problem. The reception desk had a large opening, and staff were making and taking phone calls right next to patients who were waiting. We designed an acoustic treatment that acted as a divider between the staff and waiting areas. It absorbed sound, but it also became a branded design element. It was a visual reminder to everyone in the space to be mindful of their voices and what others might be able to hear. Those kinds of thoughtful details can make a tremendous difference. And good commercial design doesn't have to mean making your space flashy. Sometimes it’s as simple as a calming color palette, beautiful artwork, plants, carefully selected lighting or comfortable upholstered furniture. In a medical setting, those touches can help soften what might otherwise feel clinical and reduce anxiety for patients who are already nervous about an appointment. I’ve been in waiting rooms where everyone feels packed together, and you can hear every conversation – even what’s happening in the restroom next door. That’s not the experience you want to create. Your office should also feel like your business. Are you telling people that you’re clean and modern? Sophisticated and unique? Warm and welcoming? Or, unintentionally, are you telling them that your business is outdated? You don’t necessarily need a complete renovation to change that message. Fresh paint, updated lighting, new artwork, better seating or a few branded design elements can make a space feel current and intentional. At Big Sky Design, we’ve worked with radiology, dermatology, and dental practices, among many others. Every practice is different, but the goal is always the same: creating a space that reflects the business behind it and gives every person who walks through the door a positive first impression. Because your office is part of your brand. Make sure it’s telling the story you want people to hear. Read more at bigskydesignonline.com.
Why Lightning Never Strikes Straight: The Surprising Science Behind Each Bolt - Futura-Sciences
The Great Lightning Paradox If you think science has most things figured out, think again. As physicist John Lowke of the University of South Australia observes, we can predict lunar and solar eclipses down to the fractional second, yet large mysteries remain around something as everyday as lightning. Lowke’s research—published...
‘DWTS’ cast reacts to Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart’s shocking elimination
The ‘Dancing With the Stars’ cast shared their feelings about Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart’s surprising elimination while speaking with EW after Tuesday’s live show: ‘Wanna see her do a freestyle.’
What happens to the body in the first hour after death? Science reveals a surprising sequence of changes
Death can look like a single moment: the heart stops, breathing ends and the person is declared dead. At the level of individual organs, tissues and cells, however, the transition is not synchronized....
Three Surprising Additions to the Padres’ Postseason Roster
Even though it's still September, October baseball is upon us! Today marks the start of the most exciting time of year in the baseball calendar: the playoffs. And with that time comes some interesting decisions. Teams have to decide who will and won't be on their postseason roster by the morning of Game One. The …
Luka Doncic Had Surprising Answer For Most Improved Laker
The Los Angeles Lakers will need a team effort to have any noteworthy success this season in the loaded Western Conference. Luka Doncic will have to play MVP level, but he also needs all teammates to be at their best this season. Monday’s NBA media day saw the Lakers players answering questions for the first […] The post Luka Doncic Had Surprising Answer For Most Improved Laker appeared first on HEAVY.
Week 4 fantasy tight end rankings: Top TE streamers, starts
Travis Kelce's resurgence as one of the NFL's top tight ends is one of this season's surprising storylines. Where does he rank this week in fantasy?
This surprising factor could reveal how compatible you and your partner really are, says science
According to a new study, scientists found that couples in romantic relationships share a taste in music more than they do personality traits and values.
Amanda Seyfried talks motherhood, politics and her surprising hobby
Amanda Seyfried is the ambassador for Vote Mama, an organization advocating for more moms to run for political office.
Scientists Simulated Microgravity in Human Cells and Found Something Unexpected About DNA
Simulated microgravity changed the nucleus but left the genome surprisingly intact.
'Saved by the Bell' star Tiffani Thiessen reveals surprising residual check
Tiffani Amber Thiessen may have ruled the school on "Saved by the Bell," but she doesn't have the receipts to prove it.
‘Surprisingly sophisticated’: Experts discover a common houseplant can count
Can plants count? Maybe not exactly like humans do, but scientists agree that they're capable of some very clever things.
'Saved by the Bell' star Tiffani Thiessen reveals surprising residual check
Tiffani Amber Thiessen may have ruled the school on "Saved by the Bell," but she doesn't have the receipts to prove it.
AirPods Pro 3 or AirPods 5? I compared them for weeks, and it’s surprisingly close
Our audio expert compared the AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 5 after weeks of testing them against one another.
NC State a 6.5-point underdog to Louisville
NC State dips back into conference play with the toughest opponent on its schedule this season, the Louisville Cardinals. It would have been a good idea to come into this one with a record better than 2-2, but Louisville is probably thinking the same thing. The Cardinals are coming off a surprising three-point home loss […]
Völler confirms Klopp will ditch 44-man Germany squad
Jürgen Klopp made a surprising call with his first squad selection as Germany coach, naming 44 players for the four UEFA Nations League matches during this international break and splitting them into...
The GOP keeps caving to Trump, and science has found the surprising reason why
Republicans in Congress have bowed overwhelmingly to President Donald Trump, rarely challenging him and instead forfeiting their legislative prerogatives by allowing him to dictate their agenda. Even as the president's plummeting poll numbers put them at political risk for doing so, most Republicans...
This ancient fruit tree thrives with little water—and hides surprising health benefits - Futura-Sciences
An Overlooked Mediterranean Classic This fruit tree yields small “apples” that ripen from yellow to red in September, yet it’s been off the horticultural radar for a long time. That tree is the azarole (Crataegus azarolus), sometimes called the Spanish thorn or azarolier. Rare and seldom noticed, it’s high time...
Coffee Could Be Messing With Your Sleep—Even When You Drink It the ‘Right’ Way
A new study yields some surprising findings.
Surprising Maple Leafs Player Clears Waivers
The Toronto Maple Leafs wrapped up their preseason contests on Wednesday with their final split-squad game against the Ottawa Senators. After the games, the Maple Leafs sent down eight players who had the possibility of being claimed off waivers.Veteran forward Steven Lorentz was among those eight players; however, luckily for the Maple Leafs, he cleared […] The post Surprising Maple Leafs Player Clears Waivers appeared first on HEAVY.
Lions Get Surprisingly Promising Update on $86M All-Pro
Detroit Lions head coach has been ominous when it comes to the potential return of safety Kerby Joseph. During his most recent interview with 97.1 The Ticket, he noted that he was not sure what could change for Joseph to see the field this season. However, NFL Insider Tom Pelissero of The Ringer shared a […] The post Lions Get Surprisingly Promising Update on $86M All-Pro appeared first on HEAVY.
Just 4 Minutes a Day: The Surprising Habit Transforming Health After 65 - Futura-Sciences
Why Short Workouts Might Be a Big Deal Starting long or intense workout regimens puts off a lot of people—no surprise there. Yet, muscle strength and balance are crucial for maintaining independence as we age, and unfortunately, these abilities decline faster after age 65. With this in mind, researchers at...
7 Surprising Health Benefits of Prunes, According to Nutrition Experts
You can add them to your morning oatmeal, toss them in a salad, or eat them as a snack.
Scientists reveal surprisingly easy exercise that may boost your mood in just 10 minutes
A University of Tsukuba study found that a slow 10-minute jog boosted attention, self-control and mood in young adults by activating the prefrontal cortex.
Wolverine Ending And Post-Credits Scene Explained By Video Game's Creative Team
Wolverine's creative team has discussed the game's ending and post-credits scene, its surprising approach to Jean Grey and Logan's past, and whether the X-Men could be assembled in a sequel.
Yankees Castoff Returns To All-Star Home After Surprising Cut
The New York Yankees received a surprising update on their former All-Star trade acquisition after he seemed to find a resurgence.
Forget Politics. EVs Have An Age Problem
Republicans and Democrats are surprisingly aligned on EV buying intent. It's Boomers that are the problem.
REM sleep paradox: Dreaming may drain the brain’s energy even as fuel supply rises
Scientists discovered a surprising energy paradox in the brain during REM sleep, the stage most closely associated with dreaming. Blood supply to the brain begins increasing even before REM starts, but neurons’ immediately available energy, measured as ATP, then drops. The finding suggests that dreaming may require such intense internal processing that neurons consume energy faster than it can be replenished.
As Xi Leaves Washington, Divisions Still Simmer Beneath the Surface
President Trump welcomed Xi Jinping of China for a state visit that was heavy on pomp and ceremony. But surprisingly little time was spent on the issues that most divide the two superpowers.
U2 goes back to school to put on a show where it all began 50 years ago
U2 has returned to their roots, surprising students with a rock and roll class at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin | KCBS All News 106.9FM and 740AM
U2 goes back to school to put on a show where it all began 50 years ago
U2 has returned to their roots, surprising students with a rock and roll class at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin | WWL
Decoding Earth's magnetic field may help scientists treat Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Here's how
"It passes through our bodies, our cells and every living organism on the planet, yet we know surprisingly little about whether and how this invisible force affects the way our cells work."
America’s newest soccer star, plus a bad night for Green Bay
The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Don’t get fined today. Coming up: 😮 A Falcons blowout win? ✅ The latest MLB playoff clinches 👋 Say hello to Cavan Sullivan Geoff Stellfox / Getty Images It’s a busy day, so this will be short. Important stuff from last night: The Falcons routed the Packers on the road, 35-14, in one of the more surprising results of the early NFL season. A lesson learned: Having a competent quarterback to go with Atlanta’s...
Surprising Short-Notice Welterweight Bout Added to UFC 332
A surprising short-notice welterweight bout has been added to UFC 332, which takes place next Saturday night.As first reported by MMAMania.com, welterweight prospect Jacobe Smith will return to the Octagon to face UFC newcomer Bruce Whitehead in a surprising booking that has MMA fans scratching their heads.Heavy’s Marcel Dorff further confirmed that Smith vs. Whitehead […] The post Surprising Short-Notice Welterweight Bout Added to UFC 332 appeared first on HEAVY.
Microsoft Copilot+ Branding Disappears from Latest Surface PCs
Microsoft's recent Snapdragon-powered Surface Laptop and Surface Pro launch was surprisingly absent the usual Copilot+ branding, aside from as a callout to the inclusion of the actual AI assistant on the devices. Apparently, this was an intentional branding change, according to Surface Corporate...