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Griffin Museum of Science and Industry decks the halls for Christmas in July
SCCT highlights payment gains, policy challenges as coronary CT use surges
An increase of nearly 200% in the use of CCTA over the past year has driven policy changes.
The ‘Halo: Campaign Evolved’ Metacritic Review Score Is In
The Metacritic score for Halo: Campaign Evolved is in, with the most reviews coming in for the PS5 version of the game.
When It Comes to Fusion, Materials Matter
Fusion at high temperatures powers the sun and, if harnessed, could provide a potential source of energy here on Earth. But controlling fusion reactions has other benefits. The process also generates subatomic particles called neutrons that are used in a range of applications spanning medicine, research, and national security. Now, scientists at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), and the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have found that the materials surrounding a fusion reaction can dramatically increase how often it occurs, particularly at low energies where fusion is rare. The study was published July 18 in Nature Communications. Their approach sets up a way to study and engineer nuclear reactions within solid materials, opening a new field of “materials-driven fusion.” Instead of designing materials just to survive the harsh conditions of fusion, researchers might be able to design materials that boost the reaction in specific conditions, similar to the way catalysts speed up chemical processes. “It gives you a new knob to turn that you didn’t have before,” said Arun Persaud, head of the Fusion Science & Ion Beam Technology group in Berkeley Lab’s Accelerator Technology & Applied Physics (ATAP) Division. “If we understand this effect better, it opens the door to engineering new materials that would affect the fusion rate under certain conditions. Someday future progress might enable more compact and efficient neutron generators, which have all kinds of applications, like cargo screening, planetary science, and medical therapy and imaging.” In the experiment, researchers used two different methods to pack deuterium, a heavy form of hydrogen atoms that is often used in fusion, into thin foils of palladium and titanium. They then fired a beam of deuterium ions at the foils at different energies and measured how often fusion happened. Then they compared the rates from the different materials and methods with the “bare” fusion reaction (not in a material). The team found that fusion rates depended on how the deuterium was loaded into the metal foils. The biggest effect was at the lowest energies, below 2.5 kiloelectronvolts (keV), where theory predicts fusion rates drop off sharply. Instead, researchers found a surprising plateau: Some samples showed elevated fusion rates roughly a quintillion times higher than bare fusion reactions. (A quintillion is a 1 followed by 18 zeroes.) Researchers are not exactly sure why that’s happening, though they have some ideas and ways to test them. The electrons and defects within the material might partially shield repulsive electrostatic forces between deuterium nuclei, making it easier for them to get close together and fuse. Tuning the electronic structure, defects, and composition of materials could help make nuclear reactions happen more readily. “It comes down to better understanding the mechanism so that we can try to enhance it,” said corresponding author Jeremy Munday, a professor at UC Davis. “We’ve seen that we can increase fusion rates, but what is the limit? Can we bring it to lower temperatures or energies? There’s obviously a lot of interest and excitement about fusion, so if there’s something we can learn about the physics at these lower energy scales, maybe there’s something we can translate to other areas of nuclear science.” The team plans to explore a wider range of materials and continue probing the unexpected fusion plateau at lower energies. Their work establishes a reproducible experimental platform to study how solid materials influence nuclear reactions, creating a new area of research that links fusion science with materials science and chemistry. “The work shows conclusively that the material environment where fusion occurs at low temperatures is an active participant rather than a passive container,” said Cameron Geddes, director of ATAP. “That adds a new dimension to fusion research.” This work was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
McNeese Sports Hall of Fame names 2026 Inductee Class
LAKE CHARLES – All-Americans, Southland Conference champions, record setters make up the 2026 McNeese Athletics Hall of Fame which was announced on Thursday.
LSU coach Lane Kiffin says he deleted social media apps from his phone after his son challenged him to do so
House again passes resolution seeking to halt military action in Iran as some Republicans defect
The House has narrowly passed a resolution to halt U.S. military action in Iran, sending a warning to President Donald Trump for the second time as the war has escalated and the future of the conflict is increasingly uncertain
PS5's War for Attention Finds a New Foe with Games on Amazon Prime
Here comes a new challenger
House votes to restrict Trump’s Iran war powers in latest rebuke over the conflict
The US House voted to halt President Donald Trump’s war in Iran absent congressional approval, the latest repudiation by lawmakers of the president’s handling of the conflict.
49ers players anchor Fox Sports' 'half-decade' team
Trent Williams and Fred Warner have been dominant at their respective positions over the past six seasons for the 49ers.
U. of C. Scientists Call for Halt to Quantum Construction
Much of their report focuses on contamination at the former South Works property
RELEASE: Gottheimer Hosts Telephone Town Hall to Discuss Health Care Costs, Medicare, Social Security, Utility Prices, Affordability in Jersey
Above: Gottheimer conducts a Telephone Town Hall with North Jersey families. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last night, July 22, 2026, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) hosted a Telephone Town Hall with thousands of North Jersey residents to discuss his bipartisan efforts to lower health care and prescription drug costs, protect Social Security and Medicare, cut taxes, lower […]
Harnessing Abundant Electricity From the Sun—and Other CU Boulder Science Tapped for Genesis Mission
Three CU Boulder-led projects and three collaborative projects selected through the U.S. Department of Energy's Genesis Mission. Research will advance artificial intelligence for fusion energy, quantum computing, particle physics and water prediction. Awards recognize CU Boulder's leadership in applying AI to some of the nation's most complex scientific challenges.
Why health officials do not have a good handle on the current Ebola outbreak
To get slightly ahead of the virus, health officials need to quickly identify people at risk of infection, a practice known as contact tracing. That's a challenge in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Justin Jefferson Sends Clear Message to Vikings Teammate J.J. McCarthy
The superstar receiver challenges his young quarterback to embrace a "dog" mentality and earn his starting role through high-stakes competition during a pivotal Minnesota offseason.
Early Access Begins Today
If you pre-ordered the Halo: Campaign Evolved Digital Premium Edition or Collector’s Bundle, you can enjoy early-access play in both solo and four-player cross-play co-op starting today!
Nestle to Offload Half of Waters Business in Joint Venture With Platinum Equity
The Swiss company agreed with Platinum Equity to create a joint venture and sell a 50% stake in its Waters and Beverages unit.
Thales Books Strong Orders as Defense, Aerospace Businesses Keep Growing
The aerospace-and-defense company’s sales increased 6.7% in reported terms and 7.8% organically, as demand for military equipment and satellite systems remained high.
Samsung vs Apple: Fight over foldable phones
Samsung gears up for a challenge from Apple.
Orcas Keep Punching Giant Sunfish to Smithereens, And Scientists Are Mesmerized
Orca SMASH!
If Tesla can't solve full self-driving, 'they don't really have a business': Ross Gerber
Ross Gerber, President and CEO of Gerber Kawasaki discusses the key challenge for Tesla's future business.
Breathalyser can tell if you are burning fat from a single exhale
Nature - The compact device can measure when the body is in ketosis and could help people to manage weight loss.
Michigan Tech Atmospheric Scientists Linked to Three Research Projects Selected for DOE Genesis Mission
Michigan Technological University researchers are involved in three proposals tapped by the U.S. Department of Energy for consideration under its recently launched Genesis Mission: Transforming Science and Energy with AI. The mission’s goal is to address national science and technology challenges using artificial intelligence.
Immigration sweeps in L.A. cost businesses millions in revenue, UCLA study finds
Researchers found there were 46,000 fewer customer visits among formal businesses within half a mile of nine documented enforcement sites and an estimated $3.16 million in accumulated revenue losses during the two weeks after enforcement activity.
Framework launches world's first mini-ITX desktop PC with Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 495 and 192 GB RAM
Framework has previewed the latest iteration of the Framework Desktop PC at AMD's Advancing AI event. The Framework Desktop is a small 4.1-litre mini-ITX PC that is powered by the Ryzen AI Max "Halo" APUs. The newest iteration brings the Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 495.
Comic-Con 2026: Marvel returns to Hall H and 'Spaceballs' sequel hype begins
More than 120,000 people are expected
Comic-Con 2026: Marvel returns to Hall H and 'Spaceballs' sequel hype begins
More than 120,000 people are expected
Biotech experts want FDA drug reviews based on science, not politics
Biotech experts call for the FDA to prioritize scientific expertise over political influence in drug reviews amid recent leadership changes and staffing challenges.
GOP blocks Schumer's effort to ground taxpayer funding for Trump's Qatari Air Force One
Senate Republicans blocked Chuck Schumer's bill to halt taxpayer funding for the new Air Force One Boeing 747-8 retrofit over nuclear concerns.
Turkey's Ozel launches new party to challenge Erdogan
Former CHP leader Ozgur Ozel is set to launch a political party after his removal from office through a court ruling.
Halo composer says Washington needs fewer career politicians
Marty O'Donnell says independent voters are embracing 'common sense' after years of what he calls left-wing 'nonsense'
Republican blocks bill to halt retrofit of Qatari-gifted Air Force One
Democrats have been trying to stop the Pentagon from spending more money on the luxury jet, which they call an "illegal" gift.
Why the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history is becoming more challenging
More than 1,000 people have died in eastern Congo’s latest rare Ebola virus outbreak.
USDA NIFA NEXTGEN Animal Science Discovery Program Expands National Reach in Third Summer
New Sustainable Urban Agriculture track, expanded student cohort and growing institutional partnerships highlight the USDA-funded initiative preparing the next generation of agriculture professionals. The USDA NIFA NEXTGEN Animal Science Discovery Program (ANSCId) concluded its third summer on July 10 with a closing ceremony at the Douglass Student Center, Trayes Hall, on the Rutgers–New Brunswick campus. […]
Halloween Horror Nights drops new scare zone inspired by 'Fortnitemares'
It will debut this fall at Universal Orlando Resort, beginning Aug. 28, and at Universal Studios Hollywood on Sept. 3.
‘We need someone who’s going to be pragmatic’: David Crowley on challenging a democratic socialist in the WI Gov. race
WATCH LIVE: House panel examines Delaney Hall ICE detention center conditions and protests
Stony Brook University Researchers Chosen for Landmark DOE Genesis Mission AI-for-Science Awards
More than $2.4M will support collaborations with Brookhaven National Lab and other institutions to address complex science and technology challenges WASHINGTON, D.C., July 22, 2026 – Researchers at the State University of New York at Stony Brook (Stony Brook University) secured five inaugural awards through the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Genesis Mission, a national AI-for-science
Olathe's $320M accessible entertainment district is taking shape
Developers say the Halo Care Collective is on track to open Jan. 1, while the larger accessible entertainment district is set for 2028.
Phone breathalyser can detect when your body switches to burning fat
A handheld breathalyser picks up on a molecule called acetone, revealing that your body is using fat for energy
What happens when you try to chop a photon in half?
A mirror that moves mid-photon could release a shower of new photons.
Wyss Institute receives Massachusetts Life Science Center award to advance metabolomics and lipidomics research across Massachusetts ecosystem
By Benjamin Boettner (BOSTON) — The Wyss Institute at Harvard University has received an award from the Massachusetts Life Science Center (MLSC), enabling it to host a next-generation metabolomics and lipidomics analytical platform. The platform will allow its researchers to creatively pursue new approaches to biomarker and drug discovery across multiple health challenges the Institute...
Andy Biggs wins Republican nomination to challenge Democrat for Arizona governor
Biggs is a fierce ally of President Donald Trump and former head of the House Freedom Caucus
Almost half of surveyed Israelis want entertainment venues closed on Tisha B'av, Tzohar poll finds
A Tzohar poll found that 49. 6% of Israelis support nationwide closures of entertainment venues on Tisha B'Av, while 35.
Stanford and SLAC to lead Genesis Mission projects
The U.S. Department of Energy announced the first phase of funding for projects using artificial intelligence to tackle the nation’s most complex science and technology challenges, including six led by Stanford and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.
ONR Announces New 2026 Science and Technology Strategy for Navy, Marin
ARLINGTON, Va.—The Office of Naval Research (ONR) has released its new Science and Technology (S&T) Strategy, which serves as a roadmap for the future to meet complex challenges facing the
McCains Support Goldfarb Center, Invest in Music Business Students
Western Illinois University alumna and former Music faculty member Claudia McCain was able to experience a breathtaking moment when the highly anticipated Western Illinois University College of Fine Arts and Communications (COFAC) Recital Hall opened in the early 2000s. Now, she and her husband, Jim, will soon experience something similar when the Goldfarb Center for the Performing Arts opens this fall.
Bloomberg American Health Initiative Announces 10th Cohort of Fellows Working to Address Critical U.S. Health Challenges | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Sixty individuals awarded full scholarships at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to pursue degrees while serving communities across the country
‘Incapacitated’ Pilot Put on Oxygen Mid-Flight After Health Emergency
The pilot required oxygen at 30,000 feet during a 10-and-a-half-hour flight.
The Milky Way May Have Flipped More Than 90 Degrees During Its Violent Youth
Its barely rotating halo may preserve the memory of an ancient galactic upheaval.
Messy primaries plague both major political parties, causing chaos and confusion in the midterms
As midterm campaigning heats up, both major political parties face unexpected challenges
Messy primaries plague both major political parties, causing chaos and confusion in the midterms
As midterm campaigning heats up, both major political parties face unexpected challenges.
The biggest barrier to teen mental health isn’t treatment.
Treatment is critically important, but experience has taught us that another challenge often comes first: ensuring young people are identified, supported and connected to care before a situation becomes a crisis.
Jacksonville Sports Hall Of Fame Recognizes Dolphin Alumnus Dee Brown
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University men's basketball alumnus Dee Brown added to his illustrious sporting resume over the weekend, being inducted into the Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame.
Scientists attach cameras to whale sharks, capturing how the world’s biggest fish hunts like never before
For decades, marine scientists have watched whale sharks (Rhincodon typus), the world’s biggest fish, from boats and while snorkelling. They could only catch glimpses of the world’s largest fish gliding through tropical waters.
Mamdani says U.S. authorities should arrest Netanyahu as ‘architect of a horrific genocide’
The New York mayor has repeatedly denounced the Israeli leader despite criticism from other Democrats. He challenged the federal government to ensure that Netanyahu be tried for war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
Big Ank Lost By Accident!
Former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev still has revenge on his mind. “Big Ank” returns to action this weekend (July 25, 2026) in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi versus Uzbek knockout artist Bogdan Guskov (not Khalil Rountree Jr.). It’s been about ten months since Ankalaev’s title loss to Alex Pereira, a quick […]
Looking at Portland's business climate with Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle
As Columbia Sportswear celebrates a major win in the world of advertising, the company's CEO says Portland's economic challenges might be too much to bear.
RIBER: FIRST-HALF 2026 BUSINESS ACTIVITY Business growth, resilient order book and continued rollout of ROSIE
FIRST-HALF 2026 BUSINESS ACTIVITYBusiness growth, resilient order book and continued rollout of ROSIE Bezons, July 22, 2026 – 8:00 am – RIBER, the global leader in molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) equipment for the semiconductor industry, reported 19% revenue growth for the first half of 2026, supported by strong momentum in services and accessories. Against a commercial backdrop marked by tighter export licensing conditions for Asia, the Company is continuing to roll out its ROSIE strategic roadmap
Inside science's 'forbidden experiment': Why scientists kill 9 million sea lampreys every year in the Great Lakes of America
At the June meet-and-greet organised by the GLFC, half a dozen sea lampreys posed for the cameras at the Capitol. One of them even sucked on the palm of Representative Bill Huizenga, as per a CNN report.
Video: Splatoon Raiders Gets New Overview Trailer Ahead Of This Week's Release
Get ready to explore the Spirhalite Islands
Political analyst on candidates in special GOP primary election for US Senate
FOX Carolina's Justin Dougherty speaks with political analyst Nate Luepp on campaign challenges for many candidates.
Garmin's New Whoop Challenger Is Also a Shot at Tech's Favorite Business Model
The Circa Smartband is a deliberate counter to the subscription-gated model that defines Whoop and Fitbit's latest tracker.
Millions Ask ChatGPT For Health Advice. Stanford Chose A Specialist
Stanford doctors chose a purpose-built AI over the famous models. Gartner says half of business AI will be specialized by 2027. Buy for the job, not the name.
‘Business as usual is a business of death’: UN adopts road safety pledge over US objection
The UN General Assembly closed its first ever High-level Meeting on road safety on Tuesday by adopting a sweeping new declaration aimed at halving road deaths by 2030 – over the sole objection of the United States.
Roundup: LNG exports / Prairieville market / GLP-1 rivalry
Predicted to double: U.S. LNG exports are expected to nearly double by 2031, becoming the country’s second-largest net export industry and contributing an estimated $1.4 trillion to the economy. The growth is driven by abundant shale gas supplies, major Gulf Coast investments and rising global demand, with LNG exports projected to support hundreds of thousands […]
How Giants have fared with ABS challenges after first 100 games of 2026 season
Here is how the San Francisco Giants have fared using the new ABS Challenge System through their first 100 games of the 2026 MLB season.
3 restaurants closed at popular Downtown L.A. food hall due to health violations
At least three restaurants were temporarily shut down last week inside of Grand Central Market DTLA after health inspectors cited them for health code violations.
Boeheim's Army returns to TBT bracket Tuesday
The Syracuse alumni team opens the $2 million, winner-take-all tournament with a best-of-three series against Hall In, a team of Seton Hall alumni.
Arizona Republicans pick nominees Tuesday for governor and other top offices
Arizona Republicans are choosing nominees Tuesday to challenge Democrats who hold top offices as the GOP searches for a path back to power in a battleground state it used to dominate.
KERRIGAN IN BIZ TECH: Here’s How Small Businesses Can Get More Value from Their Data - Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
In a Biz Tech Magazine interview, SBE Council President & CEO Karen Kerrigan is interviewed along with several business experts on ways that entrepreneurs and business owners can get more value from their data and how to manage it better. The article covers the current state-of-play and the challenges and opportunities for small businesses, including […]
Former player, coach Gleason headed to UAlbany hall of fame
The one-time Great Danes men's lacrosse player and assistant coach, who died late last year, is part of a large Class of 2026.
A doctor's 2 longevity habits for good gut health, combat vision loss
An ophthalmologist said poor gut health could be tied to a greater chance of permanent vision loss as we age. Here's how she's combating it.
Automated Neurofeedback: Rewiring the Future of Mental Health Care
Mental health and addiction disorders continue to rise across the United States, affecting veterans, adolescents, families, first responders, and entire communities. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nearly half of individuals with a substance use disorder also experience a co-occurring mental health condition. At the same time, healthcare systems are struggling with workforce ...
Garmin challenges Whoop with subscription-free Cirqa Smart Band
The Cirqa's screen-less design may not command attention, but the data should
Bandai Namco Entertainment details a fully playable GAMESCOM 2026 line-up
Bandai Namco reveals its gamescom 2026 line-up: ACE COMBAT 8, DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 3 & The Blood of Dawnwalker, all playable at Hall 6.1, booth A20/B021.
Halliday’s latest smart glasses feature a much-improved display
The new display is 1,000 percent less stupid.
Coming to XBOX Game Pass: Halo: Campaign Evolved, Beast of Reincarnation, and More
Suit up Spartans, it’s time to jump into Halo: Campaign Evolved (plus a whole bunch of other games). We’ve got more coming into Premium, some Day One with XBOX Game Pass games, and more. Let’s get to it!
FDA’s Review Of Peptides Signals A Growing Public Health Challenge— Separating Science From Hype
A FDA advisory committee will review evidence surrounding peptides. Experts are concerned there is a paucity of evidence to back their approval for legal compounding.
American Franchise Act Would Protect Small Businesses, Boost Economy
To: Members of the House Committee on Education and Workforce From: National Taxpayers Union Date: July 21, 2026 Subject: NTU’s views on the July 21 Markup I. Introduction On behalf of National Taxpayers Union, the nation’s oldest taxpayer advocacy organization, we write to express our views on legislation slated for consideration before the House Committee on Education and Workforce on July 21, 2026. While NTU recognizes that the Committee is considering a broader package of legislative propo, Author(s): Alexander Ciccone
Arkansas company is finding innovative uses for mobile storage
The use of mobile storage containers has drastically improved the way construction sites operate. Now, Little Rock-based Hugg and Hall Mobile Storage, which is marking 30 years in business this...
Election live updates: Arizona Governor Hobbs’ GOP challenger on the ballot as voters hit the polls
Follow live coverage as Arizona voters pick their favorite candidates for midterms. Get the latest as primaries underway for governor, House districts, secretary of state and more.
Phillies news: Field of Dreams, trade deadline, Seth Halvorsen
The Phillies know what they need, can’t they acquire it?
ZZ Top, Fetty Wap among 25 shows booked at new Satellite Music Hall
As the September opening of Satellite Music Hall gets closer, the Memphis venue's concert calendar continues to grow.
World leaders congratulate Andy Burnham as he becomes Britain’s PM
Beyond the diplomatic platitudes global media focuses on the ‘immense’ scale of the challenge he faces in the job
New Super PAC with ties to Boston Mayor Wu draws rebuke from the senator she’s trying to defeat
A new Super PAC that appears to be aligned with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has emerged ahead of the state primary, where two Wu-backed challengers are vying to expel the two senators Wu blames for killing her tax bill.
Reynolds named science secretary as Dsit abolished
Jonathan Reynolds to lead Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade after Whitehall shakeup
Lionel Messi, Argentina and the challenge of moving on from a GOAT
Plenty of teams in multiple sports have had to learn to live without a great player, some with much more success than others
Arizona Republicans pick nominees Tuesday for governor and other top offices
Arizona Republicans are choosing nominees to challenge Democrats in key state offices
Live Results: Arizona midterm primary elections
Arizona Republicans will choose a nominee in a state primary Tuesday to challenge Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in November.
UFC Freedom 250 Fails to Knock Out The Ratings
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) If UFC fans wanted one image to say, “Hey, Paramount+ is crushing it with their UFC rights deal,” I could provide that image. Here it is: (Reminder: this is my creation of the Nielsen Top 30, since Nielsen doesn’t combine the lists or include sports. I take all three lists and combine them. Some streaming TV shows probably have higher ratings than many of the films on this list.) Look at that! UFC Freedom 250 is number one! It topped the Nielsen “Top 30” list for shows and films that made the top ten the week of 15-June. So if you’re a UFC fan or supporter of Paramount+, that’s the good news for you this week. This program topped the ratings charts for one week. Everything else is bad news, or at least a huge caveat to that story, which I’ll explain today in the first part of this week’s Streaming Ratings Report—for the weeks of 8-June and 15-June—which is a double issue since I’ve been writing on a bunch of topics recently. UFC Freedom 250 is one of the biggest streaming events of the year, and super relevant to Paramount+’s strategy, so it merited its own article. Let’s dive in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of June 8th to June 21st 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Check Out My Interview on UFC 250 at MMA Draw After you read this article, if you want even more thoughts on UFC and Paramount-Skydance/Paramount+, I did a written interview with MMA Draw. They asked me to answer some questions about UFC Freedom 250, and I was happy to chat with them. Find it here: [ The MMA Draw Newsletter Did Paramount really overpay for the UFC? What the data tells us so far If you know the history of American television, you also know that combat sports is often a leading indicator of the future… Read more a day ago · 10 likes · 1 comment · Nate Wilcox and Zach Arnold ](https://www.themmadraw.com/p/did-paramount-really-overpay-for?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) I never thought I’d need a combat sports newsletter in my life, but the good folks at MMA Draw publish an excellent one on UFC, MMA, pro wrestling, boxing and more, analyzing both the sports themselves and the politics, economics and antitrust issues that impact them. Check the article and their newsletter out! Paramount+ Has Its Best Sporting Event of All Time…But Was It Worth It? Before we look at the UFC Freedom 250 data in particular, let’s talk about what we can’t say. Namely, let’s start with the lack of comparisons. First off, I’d love to put a chart out comparing this fight to past UFC fights on Paramount+…but we don’t have the data. This is the first time we’ve gotten Nielsen data about a Paramount+ UFC fight. As far as I can tell, Paramount provided data for the first fight, but it was a proprietary datecdote (saying it had “an average minute audience” of 5 million “views”) and then, for two fights, we got the linear viewership numbers when they aired on CBS, but no streaming data. Everything else was crickets. We also can’t compare this fight to other fights/combat sports on streaming, in particular the MMA and boxing, because Netflix also didn’t use Nielsen to track those events, opting for TVision and VideoAmp, respectively. (This isn’t Paramount’s fault, but does still suck.) We also can’t compare to UFC’s fights that used to be on ESPN+, since we don’t have any data for that, plus Disney+ didn’t have marquee fights. The comparisons would not be apples-to-apples. Can we compare to past Pay-Per-View fights? Absolutely not. The comparisons would absolutely NOT be apples-to-apples. That didn’t stop Paramount+, though, who bragged that their UFC events have reached drastically more people than past PPV fights. Duh. Sorry, but I gotta make this point again. A basic tenet of economics is that the cheaper something becomes, the more people consume or buy it. That’s Econ 101. (Sometimes pundits call things “Econ 101” that are actually like Econ 210 or even PhD-level economics, but no, this is really like first or second class basic economics.) Yet I still see one analytics firm consistently say that more people watch films on streaming than PVOD proves streaming which means that the streaming window is more valuable than the PVOD window. No, it’s not! Same thing here. Pay-Per-View events back in the day could be really, really, really expensive! So whole groups of people pitched in to buy them. That increased the perceived value of, say, the Mike Tyson fight. Or a UFC numbered event. So yes, the fact that Paramount+ makes numbered UFC fights essentially “free” if you’re already a Paramount+ member means consumption will go up. Obviously. Same for Netflix and their boxing matches. They’re talking about fights that used to cost consumers, in some cases, $50 in 1996…which is over $100 in today’s dollars. Over 1.6 million people paid that to watch the Tyson-Holyfield fight! Again, streaming is essentially “free”. Or $10 to $20, depending on what streamer we’re talking about and what tier you’re on. No wonder more people are “watching”. (Plus, Nielsen’s out-of-home viewing also helps these numbers.) UFC Freedom 250 Did Well…But I Have A Lot of Worries So what can we compare the fights to? Well, the good news is Nielsen put out that the fight averaged 7.0 million viewers for UFC Freedom 250, which is a solid number for a fight. We also know the length, at roughly 4 and a half hours. (I saw different run times, but this seems to be the consensus considering it started at 8 pm, had a delay and then finished after midnight on the East Coast. If you assume a shorter run time, then yes, the total hours viewed would go down.) That means I have the two numbers needed to add this to my Nielsen database. And then…I can compare this viewership to the NFL: And, uh, not great. But also within striking distance, mainly because the runtime for this event was so long. I’d also add that this event had viewership equal to a regular season NFL game on streaming, but if anything, it was more comparable to an NFL playoff or Super Bowl-esque event. And you can compare viewership to the top football games on broadcast, cable and streaming, and it’s not impressive at all: We can also compare it to other sports that week, including the NBA Finals and start of the World Cup: Again, not great. The NBA generated roughly four times as many average viewers each game for its NBA Finals. The World Cup has similarly big numbers. Also, that’s just a tiny fraction of the 25 most watched sporting events each week. The NBA, NHL and FIFA World Cup had many, many more games racking up hours. We could also compare this to other streaming programs to get an idea of “is this a good investment?” and here is how it ranks compared to other top Paramount+ programs: The worry here? Well, unlike scripted programming, which has rewatchability, older fights/sporting events have very little library value. Very, very few people are rewatching these fights, especially years from now. Paramount has also released datecdotes bragging about their subscriber numbers. Earlier this year, they claimed that the first UFC fight on Paramount+ brought in 1 million subscribers. Then, in their quarterly earnings report, they only ended up with 700K subs. Not great! They claimed they dropped lower-value international subscribers, but that’s why I tend to discount subscriber additions when they’re leaked to the press.1 I expect we may see a bump again for UFC Freedom 250, but I’d caution using subscriber growth so soon after these events to judge the success, since new subs with high churn (see Peacock) aren’t great either. Also, analysts often want to attribute all subscriber growth to their favorite/pet show, and that just doesn’t make sense. The biggest caveat for UFC Freedom 250 and Paramount’s very first UFC marquee event is that these could be high watermarks for the sport. UFC Freedom 250 had an incredible amount of earned media coverage compared to most UFC fights. I mean, it had wall-to-wall national news coverage in the lead up to the event. (The first fight also had a lot of promotion from Paramount since it was first.) Other fights could reach this bar—say the Conor McGregor return to the Octagon—but they’ll be fewer and far between. Was This Deal Worth It? All to ask: is this Paramount deal worth it? In this case, I think the UFC Freedom 250 numbers are more distracting than helpful. This fight did well and compares well to other top sporting events. But we know that the first marquee event was at least a third smaller, if Paramount’s own data is to be believed. And it’s likely the other fights are much, much, much smaller. And then you get to the paycheck that Paramount-Skydance paid. FIFA’s World Cup cost about the same for Fox, but clearly generated multiples more total viewership. (Though it’s only every four years.) The NBA is much more expensive, but until the playoffs, they likely didn’t pay for itself. Even still, Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon Prime Video likely overpaid. So, in that context, the NBA may be an overpay that makes the UFC look not so bad. But two overpays don’t make an underpay, to paraphrase the old cliché about wrongs and rights. And looking at UFC Freedom 250 as the likely ceiling of MMA on Paramount+, Paramount-Skydance likely paid too much. Share 1 I would love regular reports on subscriber additions by programs, but as is, it’s mostly leaked or rumored in haphazard ways.
US judge temporary halts Paramount-Warner entertainment giant merger
Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin issues 14-day restraining order preventing $110B transaction, sets hearing on preliminary injunction for Aug. 3 | Anadolu
NY Attorney Letitia James praises federal judge’s ruling to pause entertainment industry merger
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Democrat set to replace Platner in Maine led state Senate with a temper
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Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer bans private equity purchases of hospitals, signs bills to improve health care access, affordabilit
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Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Taylor’s Maid-Rite
Read the release on Sen. Ernst's website HERE. Throughout this Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties. RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Taylor's Maid-Rite of Marshall County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in each of Iowa's 99 counties. "Taylor's Maid-Rite has truly maid their mark as a cornerstone of Marshalltown's business community," said Chair Ernst. "For nearly a century, this shop has served generations of Iowans with a signature burger made fresh every day. This 'Maid in Iowa' success story has proven that consistency, quality, and genuine customer care are the recipe for lasting success." Founded in the heart of Marshalltown, Taylor's Maid-Rite has remained a family-owned business for nearly a century and is now entering its fourth generation of Taylor family ownership. Best known for its signature Maid-Rite sandwich, the restaurant also serves classic American diner favorites, including malts, pies, fries, and sodas. Throughout its history, Taylor's Maid-Rite has remained committed to fresh ingredients, personalized service, and strong community involvement. Stay tuned as Chair Ernst continues to recognize outstanding Iowa small businesses with her Small Business of the Week award. ###
NEW NFIB REPORT: Texas Small Businesses Report Insurance Challenges Five Points Worse Than National Average
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Sausalito City Manager, Former SF Port Director, Arrested During ‘Mental Health Crisis’
Elaine Forbes was the director of the Port of San Francisco for nearly a decade before starting the new role in Marin County three weeks ago.
Science Under the Sword of Damocles
By Sam Halpern, M.D. I have spent my working life in medicine as a clinician and a medical scientist. I have watched with awe as basic and applied medical science placed new and effective tools in…