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  • iPhone 17 Air: Every New Feature We Know

    iPhone 17 Air: Every New Feature We Know

    • The iPhone “Air” will reportedly replace the iPhone Plus model. It could measure 5.5mm thick and have a 6.6-inch display.
    • iOS 26’s Adaptive Power feature could help mitigate battery compromises with a skinnier iPhone. 
    • The iPhone 17 Air could cost $900, but the price may be impacted by tariffs. 
    • It could come in four color options, including a buzzed-about sky blue hue.

    As September approaches, we’re getting closer to learning whether Apple will unveil a super-thin iPhone with the rest of its upcoming lineup. 

    Apple hasn’t confirmed any details about the iPhone 17, but that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from churning — especially as it relates to this supposedly thin new model, which has been dubbed the “iPhone 17 Air” in the meantime. It could serve as a successor to the iPhone 16 Plus, with a 6.6-inch display, making it smaller than the iPhone 16 Pro Max but bigger than the baseline iPhone and Pro models. It could also include higher RAM, new colors and a battery boost — thanks in part to iOS 26’s Adaptive Power feature. 

    Apple’s ultra-thin phone could be the latest to join a slew of skinny phones, including the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. But in its effort to slim down the device, Apple would likely need to make some hardware trade-offs, which could include a single rear camera. Plus, there’s the possibility of a high price tag, which could also be impacted by tariffs.

    The wait is almost over, but for now, we’re rounding up all the latest rumors, leaks and speculation about the new iPhone. Let’s dig in.

    Read more: Should You Buy an iPhone 16 or Wait for the iPhone 17?

    iPhone 17 Air size: How thin will it be?

    If the rumored iPhone 17 Air lives up to its name, then the biggest potential advantage it could offer over the rest of the lineup is its size and weight. A Bloomberg report from March notes that the iPhone Air could measure 5.5mm thick, compared to the iPhone 16 Pro which measures at 8.25mm thick. The iPhone 17 Pro Max could be as thick as 8.725mm to make room for a bigger battery, according to a report by 9to5Mac. 

    Matt Talks Tech posted a YouTube video on July 19 comparing the thickness of an iPhone 17 Air model with an iPhone 6, the last thinnest iPhone:

    Mac Rumors reported in May that a leaker on the Korean-language Naver blog, going by yeux1122, said that the rumored iPhone 17 Air weighs approximately 145 grams (5.11 ounces). Compare that with the iPhone 16 Pro, which weighs 199 grams (7.03 ounces). If this rumor proves true, the Air would be just slightly heavier than the iPhone 13 mini, which weighs 141 grams (4.97 ounces).

    iPhone 17 Air camera: Potential downgrade?

    To slim down the iPhone, Apple may have to make some camera compromises. 

    In July, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reiterated the long-standing rumor that the iPhone 17 Air will only feature one rear camera for wide-angle shots. That would place it in the same camp as the $599 iPhone 16E, which has a single rear camera with a 48-megapixel sensor — though it’s not clear if the iPhone 17 Air will have the same sensor. Bloomberg also noted earlier this year that the rumored Air may not have the ultrawide and 5x telephoto lenses that have become staples of Apple’s premium iPhones. 

    In a bit of good news, it’s also rumored that the front-facing “selfie” camera on all iPhone 17 models, including the Air, will be upgraded to 24 megapixels, according to analyst Jeff Pu. 

    In February, Front Page Tech shared a re-created render of the iPhone 17 Air, which supposedly includes a glimpse of the camera, in this video on YouTube:

    Display: Smaller than a Plus, bigger than a Pro?

    Rumor has it that the Air will have a 6.6-inch display, according to analysts Pu and Kuo, who also said the display resolution would be around 1260×2740 pixels. That aligns with the wallpaper resolution Macworld found in the second iOS 26 developer beta — a resolution that no existing iPhone currently has.

    If rumors are accurate, the iPhone 17 Air’s display will be slightly smaller than the iPhone 16 Plus, which has a 6.7-inch display, but larger than the iPhone 16 Pro, which has a 6.3-inch display. The iPhone 16 Pro Max leads with a 6.9-inch display. It’s unclear if the iPhone 17 Air’s screen would be a ProMotion display like the one found on iPhone Pro models. 

    Performance: Could an Air get the A19 Pro chip?

    The iPhone 17 Air could benefit from some performance boosts.

    Bloomberg reported back in March that the rumored phone will have a standard A19 chip, instead of the A19 Pro landing on the Pro versions. Kuo shared the same prediction as recently as July 24. 

    However, a Weibo account known as Fixed Focus Digital said the iPhone 17 Air will come with an A19 Pro chip, MacRumors reported on July 9. But the Air would have a 5-core GPU, according to the rumor, whereas the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max would get a 6-core GPU.

    Apple is also reportedly bringing more design in-house to improve connectivity across all devices. In February, Kuo said Apple will swap out Broadcom’s Wi-Fi chips for in-house chips across the iPhone 17 lineup.

    iPhone 17 Air battery life expectations

    One of the key challenges of slimming down a phone is figuring out how to not compromise battery life.

    Initially, it was assumed that a skinnier iPhone would simply have reduced battery life, since there would be less space to house a battery. But more recently, AppleInsider reported that a skinnier iPhone might use a silicon-anode battery to help extend battery life. 

    Leaker Yeux1122 said the iPhone 17 Air’s battery capacity is 2,800mAh, based on details from a “mass production confirmed sample,” according to MacRumors. The leaker adds that a high-density battery in the Air could increase its “actual capacity” by 15% to 20%. Kuo also noted back in March that the phone could have that “high-density” battery.

    If the rumored iPhone 17 Air does use the silicon battery technology, it would be the first iPhone to do so.

    One feature that could help avoid battery drain is Adaptive Power in iOS 26. This can help conserve battery by automatically adjusting your iPhone’s performance based on how you’re using the it at that moment, according to Apple. 

    And while the appeal of a skinnier iPhone may be its sleekness, Apple could still release a battery case as an iPhone 17 Air accessory, according to a May report from Wayne Ma with The Information.

    Memory upgrade

    In April, Kuo noted the iPhone 17 Air will have 12GB of RAM, just like the upcoming Pro models. The baseline iPhone 17 is expected to stay at 8GB, according to both Kuo and Pu. Tipster Digital Chat Station noted that the boost is thanks to the devices’ use of Apple Intelligence and AI on a “large scale.”

    Colors for the iPhone 17 Air

    Current rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Air come come in these shades:

    • Black
    • Blue gray 
    • Light gold
    • Silver

    On Aug. 3, Majin Bu posted photos on X of the predicted color lineup across the iPhone 17 series:

    Dynamic Island: Front camera could move

    Bloomberg’s report also notes that the iPhone 17 Air is expected to have superslim bezels compared to the rest of the line, along with a Camera Control button and a Dynamic Island cutout in the display. 

    Pu predicted in May that all the iPhone 17 models will use a new metalens technology for the proximity sensor, according to 9to5Mac. That technology could allow Apple to reduce the size of the Face ID sensor and its Dynamic Island. However, Pu’s report contradicts Kuo, who previously said that the Dynamic Island would remain “largely unchanged” in the iPhone 17 lineup compared to the iPhone 16 lineup.

    In a post to X on June 26, Bu said the front camera might be placed on the left of the Dynamic Island, based on leaked screen protector designs. Other iPhone 17 models appear to retain the camera on the right side:

    Air or Slim? What we know about the name

    The title for the rumored skinny iPhone is still unclear — in fact, we still don’t know if Apple’s new lineup will even be called the iPhone 17, as it’s been known to switch up its naming conventions. Take, for example, its decision to follow iOS 18 with iOS 26, instead of the expected moniker iOS 19, to coincide with the upcoming year.

    We likely won’t find out the phone’s official name until Apple announces its new iPhone lineup. But most rumors and leaks — including this video Bu shared of a dummy model on X on July 9 — refer to the skinnier iPhone as the “Air”:

    iPhone 17 Air release date: Is the slimmer iPhone coming this year?

    For nearly a decade, Apple has held an event on the first Tuesday of September after Labor Day to announce its new phones. We expect Apple to follow a similar schedule this year for the release of its iPhone 17 line, including the rumored iPhone 17 Air. 

    However, the first Tuesday is the day after Labor Day in 2025, so Apple may push the dates for its iPhone event to Wednesday, Sept. 3, or Tuesday, Sept. 9. That would mean a release date of Sept. 12 or 19. Most rumors point to Sept. 9 as the expected date for Apple’s iPhone reveal event.

    The iPhone 17 lineup may be the last to follow this fall-release model, according to Kuo and a report from The Information. Starting with the iPhone 18, Apple will reportedly split its phone releases so that lower-cost iPhones launch in the first half of the year (previously reserved for iPhone SE models) and higher-end Pro models are announced in the latter half. That would likely mean a rumored iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, Air and new foldable iPhone model could debut in fall 2026. Keep in mind that an iPhone Flip or Fold has been rumored for years.

    You’ll likely be able to preorder a new iPhone the Friday after the announcement, with the phone shipping a week later. Based on the expected announcement on Sept. 3 or 9, the preorder date could be either Sept. 5 or 12, respectively.

    See also: The iPhone 17 Air Could Hint at Apple’s Foldable Future

    What will the iPhone 17 Air cost?

    Early rumors about the iPhone 17 Air’s price tag hinted it could cost even more than the iPhone 17 Pro. But a Bloomberg report from March suggested the phone could cost about $900. That price tag would align with the rumor that the Air could replace the Plus, which currently costs $929. For comparison, Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge starts at $1,100.

    However, there’s also the question of how tariffs could affect the price of an iPhone. Amid President Donald Trump’s ongoing tariff drama, he’s threatened Apple with a 25% tariff if the company doesn’t move iPhone manufacturing to the US.

    How much all of this could affect iPhone prices is yet to be determined, but a 25% price increase could push an iPhone 17 Air to more than $1,100. Again, that’s based on the price of an iPhone 16 Plus, which the iPhone 17 Air is rumored to be replacing. None of the pricing rumors has been confirmed by Apple.

    Regardless of how tariffs play out, Apple is expected to raise the price of the iPhone. These price hikes are rumored to start with the iPhone 17 line, so prepare now to pay more for the potential Air.

    Are iPhone Air rumors and leaks to be trusted?

    Rumors are just that. The speculation leading up to the iPhone’s release is often based on insider knowledge or leaked information from the teams working on the iPhone’s design, but those plans can evolve and are not necessarily reflected in the final product. We’ll only be able to confirm these rumors with certainty when Apple officially releases the next iPhone.


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  • Tiger cub hedge fund Coatue Management unveils new position in Oracle, doubles down on AI buildout

    Tiger cub hedge fund Coatue Management unveils new position in Oracle, doubles down on AI buildout

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  • Antigravity Pulls the Wraps off the A1, the World’s First 8K 360-Degree Drone

    Antigravity Pulls the Wraps off the A1, the World’s First 8K 360-Degree Drone

    It feels like it was forever ago, since it set the drone industry alight with speculation, excitement, and the anticipation of an international slap fight between Insta360 and DJI, two of the most prominent action camera manufacturers.

    It was just a little over two weeks ago that Insta360 announced its drone sub-brand, Antigravity. Now, on August 14, they’ve pulled the wraps off their introductory product, the A1. Antigravity made big promises, and here it is: the world’s first 8K-resolution, 360-degree camera drone.

    the deets

    Antigravity lists the A1’s weight at 249 grams, which equates to about 8.8 ounces. There are two cameras placed above and below the drone’s fuselage, and according to Antigravity the two cameras’ images combine into one with “seamless stitching.”

    “This enables complete environmental capture with no drone visible and no blind spots in the frame,” Antigravity says.

    The A1’s 360-degree camera means the operator doesn’t have to worry about pointing it in the right direction during flight, as with a normal camera drone. They can just reframe their shot in post-production and export multiple camera angles from a single clip in any aspect ratio without downgrading the image quality.

    Rather than control the drone through control sticks, as with a typical drone (or a PlayStation controller, if that’s what you’re more familiar with), Antigravity’s Grip Controller responds to hand gestures while the operator looks through the Vision Goggles through the drone’s point of view. The goggles track head movements, so the user just has to look where they want the camera to move.

    Because it’s a 360-degree camera, the operator isn’t tied to looking in the direction in which the A1 is flying. Through the Vision Goggles, they can look in any direction they want as they fly the drone, via the Grip Controller, another way. Look southeast and fly west, for example.

    There’s a return-to-home function, in which the operator can direct the drone to find the operator, even if the operator has lost their bearings while flying. Such a feature is a necessity, I think, for anything more than toy drones that won’t leave the backyard.

    The Antigravity A1 launches for sale in January 2026. There’s no word yet on pricing, but I’ll continue to keep up with the news as we all greedily await details, leaks, rumors, and gentle whispers regarding the A1.


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  • Scientists decode inner speech from brain activity with high accuracy

    Scientists decode inner speech from brain activity with high accuracy

    Scientists have pinpointed brain activity related to inner speech-the silent monologue in people’s heads-and successfully decoded it on command with up to 74% accuracy. Publishing August 14 in the Cell Press journal Cell, their findings could help people who are unable to audibly speak communicate more easily using brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies that begin translating inner thoughts when a participant says a password inside their head. 

    This is the first time we’ve managed to understand what brain activity looks like when you just think about speaking. For people with severe speech and motor impairments, BCIs capable of decoding inner speech could help them communicate much more easily and more naturally.”


    Erin Kunz, lead author of Stanford University

    BCIs have recently emerged as a tool to help people with disabilities. Using sensors implanted in brain regions that control movement, BCI systems can decode movement-related neural signals and translate them into actions, such as moving a prosthetic hand. 

    Research has shown that BCIs can even decode attempted speech among people with paralysis. When users physically attempt to speak out loud by engaging the muscles related to making sounds, BCIs can interpret the resulting brain activity and type out what they are attempting to say, even if the speech itself is unintelligible. 

    Although BCI-assisted communication is much faster than older technologies, including systems that track users’ eye movements to type out words, attempting to speak can still be tiring and slow for people with limited muscle control. 

    The team wondered if BCIs could decode inner speech instead. 

    “If you just have to think about speech instead of actually trying to speak, it’s potentially easier and faster for people,” says Benyamin Meschede-Krasa, the paper’s co-first author, of Stanford University. 

    The team recorded neural activity from microelectrodes implanted in the motor cortex-a brain region responsible for speaking-of four participants with severe paralysis from either amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or a brainstem stroke. The researchers asked the participants to either attempt to speak or imagine saying a set of words. They found that attempted speech and inner speech activate overlapping regions in the brain and evoke similar patterns of neural activity, but inner speech tends to show a weaker magnitude of activation overall. 

    Using the inner speech data, the team trained artificial intelligence models to interpret imagined words. In a proof-of-concept demonstration, the BCI could decode imagined sentences from a vocabulary of up to 125,000 words with an accuracy rate as high as 74%. The BCI was also able to pick up what some inner speech participants were never instructed to say, such as numbers when the participants were asked to tally the pink circles on the screen. 

    The team also found that while attempted speech and inner speech produce similar patterns of neural activity in the motor cortex, they were different enough to be reliably distinguished from each other. Senior author Frank Willett of Stanford University says researchers can use this distinction to train BCIs to ignore inner speech altogether. 

    For users who may want to use inner speech as a method for faster or easier communication, the team also demonstrated a password-controlled mechanism that would prevent the BCI from decoding inner speech unless temporarily unlocked with a chosen keyword. In their experiment, users could think of the phrase “chitty chitty bang bang” to begin inner-speech decoding. The system recognized the password with more than 98% accuracy. 

    While current BCI systems are unable to decode free-form inner speech without making substantial errors, the researchers say more advanced devices with more sensors and better algorithms may be able to do so in the future. 

    “The future of BCIs is bright,” Willett says. “This work gives real hope that speech BCIs can one day restore communication that is as fluent, natural, and comfortable as conversational speech.” 

    Source:

    Journal reference:

    Kunz, E. M., et al. (2025). Inner speech in motor cortex and implications for speech neuroprostheses. Cell. doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2025.06.015.

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  • Run with The Smugglers’ League in Sea of Thieves Season 17 — content-news.community.sea-of-thieves — Blizzard News

    Run with The Smugglers’ League in Sea of Thieves Season 17 — content-news.community.sea-of-thieves — Blizzard News

    Season 17 has begun! And some unfamiliar faces have been spied on remote islands as The Smugglers’ League settle in and begin their hunt for high-value, dangerous prizes. They’re open to letting pirate crews help them transport their cargo where it needs to go, and maybe recovering some choice items misplaced along the way. Their true goal, however, remains rather mysterious… but for now, let’s find out what you can expect from this new Season in Sea of Thieves!


    Introducing the League


    These shadowy newcomers have set up shop in secret hideaways across the seas, and they’ve set their sights on some explosive new treasures. While they show a surprising appreciation of Fine Art and fragile bottles of even finer rum, the League are also on the hunt for Black Powder Barrels. These devastating delights pack more of a punch than any other explosive on the seas, so you’ll want to be careful about bringing them aboard your own ship.


    As The Smugglers’ League get accustomed to life on the Sea of Thieves, they’re recruiting pirates to ferry some of their precious cargo safely from pick-up point to destination. That means sending crews out on Smugglers’ Route Runs, perilous delivery Voyages along a highly contested route. If you want to make it through unscathed and with the cargo still in your possession, you’ll need to keep a keen eye on that horizon. Elsewhere, find a Message in a Bottle with the Smugglers’ mark and you can set out on other Smugglers’ Runs too, ranging far and wide with some of the most valuable contraband on the seas.





    Sea of Thieves Season 17: Official Launch Trailer


    Duration 0:49


    Making Their Mark


    You don’t last long in the smuggling trade by doing business out in the open, so The Smugglers’ League have sought secret spots on the Sea of Thieves to conduct their covert operations. Each of them has established a Smugglers’ Hideout, somewhere out of sight and protected by traps. You’ll have to pinpoint these Hideouts yourself if you want to get to know the League and deliver any cargo you discover on your travels.


    And there is cargo to be found! A recent run of bad luck has seen several Smugglers’ Shipwrecks left to languish beneath the waves, hiding treasures that can be returned to the League for a comfortable payout. Some of this wayward cargo has also washed up on beaches for passing ships to spot, while opportunistic Skeleton Ships have been seen to scoop up the rest. Hunt them down and sink them if you want to claim those spoils for yourself…



    The Season Continues


    Surreptitious they may be, but those Smugglers don’t sit still for long. When September and October bring in Act 2 and Act 3 of Season 17, there’ll be plenty more Smuggler activity to join in, including a daring Heist that pits crew against crew to secure some very valuable loot. Those who take part will descend upon Royal Crest Fortress in search of a painting specially requested by an important patron of the League, but remember: you won’t be the only one after the prize! Surviving skirmishes with rival sailors will be crucial to claiming the payout.


    In the meantime, Captain Flameheart’s forces are using the distraction offered by the League’s arrival to strengthen their position at the Skeleton Forts. In Act 3 of Season 17, you’ll be able to find the newly fortified Reaper Fortresses under siege from a Phantom fleet. Fight off both sides, and you might just be able to escape with a cache of dangerous loot – provided none of the Fort’s new traps get you first…





    Sea of Thieves Season 17: Official Content Update Video


    Duration 5:09


    Rewarding Work


    With so many new additions to the seas, Season 17 wouldn’t be complete without a host of new Commendations to measure your success! Completing Voyages for the Smugglers and handing in their cargo will help you unlock a wealth of cosmetics to update your pirate’s style. For completionists, new achievements (and Trophies) present a tantalising challenge as the potential gamerscore on offer climbs towards a tremendous total…


    As always, there are new Pirate Emporium offerings including the dusty outlaw chic of the Riptide Rodeo set, plus of course a new Season means a new Plunder Pass packed with goodies to unlock – this time including the Rare Regalia ship set and clothing, as well as 750 Ancient Coins for spending in the Pirate Emporium.


    Whether you pick up the Pass or not, there’s a trove of rewards on offer for climbing 100 more levels of Renown this Season, including items from the Master of the High Seas, Fabled Fins and Faraway Shores sets. To help you earn these time-limited rewards, a new Deed system has been implemented to encourage arrangements with the Smugglers and earn increased Renown by doing so!





    Emporium Spotlight – Riptide Rodeo Set: Official Sea of Thieves


    Duration 0:32


    Pirate Profiles also arrive this Season, offering a way to access an extra pirate persona without overwriting your existing one. Want to keep your current adventurer firmly on their own path, while embarking on a separate seafaring saga under another pirate identity? Adding a new Pirate Profile will let you do that, splitting your time between two (or three, or more) profiles as you see fit. Swing by the Pirate Emporium and purchase a Pirate Deed if this sounds like something for you!


    There are a lot of changes coming to the seas this Season, spaced out to ensure you have something new to discover each month. For a full tour of everything arriving in August, be sure to read through the detailed Season launch release notes, and check out the dedicated Season 17 page – and for more about the features coming in September and October, follow Sea of Thieves on your social media channel of choice to stay in the loop. Until then, we wish you good luck and successful smuggling!

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  • Dollar up as US producer prices surge in July – Reuters

    1. Dollar up as US producer prices surge in July  Reuters
    2. Fed cut seen near certain after inflation data, Bessent comments  Reuters
    3. US inflation held steady as mild tariff hit offset by cheaper gas, food  AP News
    4. Wholesale prices rose 0.9% in July, much more than expected  CNBC
    5. PPI inflation shock: Core producer prices hit 3-year high in July in ‘head-scratching’ inflation surge  Yahoo Finance

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  • New 2025 guidelines focus on early intervention and lifestyle to manage high blood pressure

    New 2025 guidelines focus on early intervention and lifestyle to manage high blood pressure

    Preventing and managing high blood pressure with healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as following a heart-healthy diet including reducing salt intake, staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight and managing stress—combined with early treatment with medication to lower blood pressure if necessary—are recommended to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, cognitive decline and dementia, according to a new clinical guideline published today in the American Heart Association’s peer-reviewed journals Circulation and Hypertension, and in JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology.

    The “2025 AHA / ACC / AANP / AAPA / ABC / ACCP / ACPM / AGS / AMA / ASPC / NMA / PCNA / SGIM Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults” replaces the 2017 guideline and includes new or updated recommendations for blood pressure management based on the latest scientific evidence to achieve the best health outcomes for patients.

    The new guideline reflects several major changes since 2017, including use of the American Heart Association’s PREVENTTM (Predicting Risk of cardiovascular disease EVENTs) risk calculator to estimate cardiovascular disease risk. It also provides updated guidance on medication options, including the early treatment for high blood pressure to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia; use of specific medications including the possible addition of newer therapies such as GLP-1 medications for some patients with high blood pressure and overweight or obesity, and recommendations for managing high blood pressure before, during and after pregnancy.

    High blood pressure (including stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension) affects nearly half (46.7%) of all adults in the U.S., is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and around the world. The blood pressure criteria remain the same as the 2017 guideline:

    • normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg;

    • elevated blood pressure is 120-129/80 mm Hg;

    • stage 1 hypertension is 130-139 mm Hg or 80-89 mm Hg; and

    • stage 2 hypertension is ≥140 mm Hg or ≥90 mm Hg.

    “High blood pressure is the most common and most modifiable risk factor for heart disease,” said Chair of the guideline writing committee Daniel W. Jones, M.D., FAHA, dean and professor emeritus of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson, Mississippi, and was a member of the writing committee for the 2017 high blood pressure guideline. “By addressing individual risks earlier and offering more tailored strategies across the lifespan, the 2025 guideline aims to aid clinicians in helping more people manage their blood pressure and reduce the toll of heart disease, kidney disease, Type 2 diabetes and dementia.”

    “This updated guideline is designed to support health care professionals—from primary care teams to specialists, and to all clinicians across health systems—with the diagnosis and care of people with high blood pressure. It also empowers patients with practical tools that can support their individual health needs as they manage their blood pressure, whether through lifestyle changes, medications or both,” Jones said.

    Importance of healthy lifestyle

    The new guideline reaffirms the critical role healthy lifestyle behaviors play in preventing and managing high blood pressure, and it encourages health care professionals to work with patients to set realistic, achievable goals. Healthy behaviors such as those in Life’s Essential 8, the American Heart Association’s metrics for heart health, remain the first line of care for all adults.

    Specific blood pressure-related guidance includes:

    • limiting sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg per day, moving toward an ideal limit of 1,500 mg per day by checking food labels (most adults in the U.S. get their sodium from eating packaged and restaurant foods, not the salt shaker);

    • ideally, consuming no alcohol or for those who choose to drink, consuming no more than two drinks per day for men and no more than one drink per day for women;

    • managing stress with exercise, as well as incorporating stress-reduction techniques like meditation, breathing control or yoga;

    • maintaining or achieving a healthy weight, with a goal of at least a 5% reduction in body weight in adults who have overweight or obesity;

    • following a heart healthy eating pattern, for example the DASH eating plan, which emphasizes reduced sodium intake and a diet high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, and low-fat or nonfat dairy, and includes lean meats and poultry, fish and non-tropical oils;

    • increasing physical activity to at least 75-150 minutes each week including aerobic exercise (such as cardio) and/or resistance training (such as weight training); and

    • home blood pressure monitoring is recommended for patients to help confirm office diagnosis of high blood pressure and to monitor, track progress and tailor care as part of an integrated care plan.

    Addressing each of these lifestyle factors is especially important for people with high blood pressure and other major risk factors for cardiovascular disease because it may prevent, delay or treat elevated or high blood pressure.

    New risk calculator and earlier intervention

    The new guideline recommends that health care professionals use the PREVENTTM risk calculator to estimate a person’s risk of a heart attack, stroke or heart failure. Developed by the American Heart Association in 2023, PREVENTTM is a tool to estimate 10- and 30-year risk of cardiovascular disease in people ages 30-79 years. It includes variables such as age, sex, blood pressure, cholesterol levels and other health indicators, including zip code as a proxy for social drivers of health. It is the first risk calculator that combines measures of cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic health to estimate risk for cardiovascular disease. More precise risk estimates can help guide treatment decisions personalized for each individual.

    In addition to the use of the PREVENTTM risk assessment tool, the new guideline recommends two important changes to laboratory testing for initial evaluation.

    • The ratio of urine albumin and creatinine (a test that assesses kidney health) is now recommended for all patients with high blood pressure. It was recommended as an optional test in the 2017 guideline.

    • The guideline also expands the indication for use of the plasma aldosterone-to-renin ratio test as a screening tool for primary aldosteronism in more patients including those with obstructive sleep apnea. (Primary aldosteronism is a condition that occurs when the adrenal glands make too much aldosterone, leading to high blood pressure and low potassium levels.)

    • Screening for primary aldosteronism may also be considered in adults with stage 2 hypertension to increase rates of detection, diagnosis and targeted treatment.

    Association of high blood pressure with cognitive decline and dementia

    While high blood pressure is a leading cause of heart attack and stroke, the new guideline highlights other serious risks. More recent research confirms that blood pressure affects brain health, including cognitive function and dementia. High blood pressure can damage small blood vessels in the brain, which is linked to memory problems and long-term cognitive decline. The guideline recommends early treatment for people diagnosed with high blood pressure with a goal of systolic blood pressure (top number) goal of <130 mm Hg for adults with high blood pressure to prevent cognitive impairment and dementia.

    Tailored approaches to medication for high blood pressure

    For many people with high blood pressure, especially those who have Type 2 diabetes, obesity or kidney disease, more than one medication may be needed to lower blood pressure to meet the <130/80 mm Hg criteria. The guideline highlights several types of blood pressure medications to initiate treatment, including angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), long-acting dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers and thiazide-type diuretics. If blood pressure remains high after one medication, clinicians may individualize treatment to either increase the dose or add a second medication from a different medication class.

    The guideline maintains the recommendation to begin treatment with two medications at once – preferably in a single combination pill – for people with blood pressure levels 140/90 mm Hg or higher (stage 2 hypertension). The guideline also suggests possible addition of newer therapies such as GLP-1 medications for some patients with high blood pressure and overweight or obesity.

    High blood pressure and pregnancy

    High blood pressure during pregnancy can have lasting effects on the mother’s health, including an increased risk of future high blood pressure and cardiovascular conditions. Without treatment, high blood pressure during pregnancy can lead to serious complications, such as preeclampsia, eclampsia, stroke, kidney problems and/or premature delivery. Women with high blood pressure who are planning a pregnancy or are pregnant should be counseled about the potential benefits of low-dose aspirin (81 mg/day) to reduce the risk of preeclampsia.

    For pregnant women with chronic hypertension (high blood pressure before pregnancy or diagnosed before 20 weeks of pregnancy), the new guideline recommends treatment with certain medications when systolic blood pressure reaches 140 mm Hg or higher and/or diastolic blood pressure reaches 90 mm Hg or higher. This change reflects growing evidence that tighter blood pressure control for some individuals during pregnancy may help to reduce the risk of serious complications.

    In addition, postpartum care is especially important because high blood pressure can begin or persist after delivery. The guideline urges continued blood pressure monitoring and timely treatment during the postpartum period to help prevent complications. Patients with a history of pregnancy-associated high blood pressure are encouraged to have their blood pressure measured at least annually.

    It is important for people to be aware of the recommended blood pressure goals and understand how healthy lifestyle behaviors and appropriate medication use can help them achieve and maintain optimal blood pressure. Prevention, early detection and management of high blood pressure are critical to long-term heart and brain health, which means longer, healthier lives.” 


    Daniel W. Jones, M.D., FAHA, Chair of the guideline writing committee

    This guideline was prepared by a volunteer writing committee on behalf of the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines, and in collaboration with and endorsed by the American Academy of Physician Associates, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, the American College of Preventive Medicine, the American Geriatrics Society, the American Medical Association, the American Society of Preventive Cardiology, the Association of Black Cardiologists, the National Medical Association, the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association and the Society of General Internal Medicine.

    Source:

    American Heart Association

    Journal reference:

    Jones, D. W., et al. (2025) AHA/ACC/AANP/AAPA/ABC/ACCP/ACPM/AGS/AMA/ASPC/NMA/PCNA/SGIM Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001356.

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  • Fermilab technology debuts in supercollider dress rehearsal at CERN

    Fermilab technology debuts in supercollider dress rehearsal at CERN

    Scientists and engineers are preparing to make the world’s biggest supercollider even more powerful with the High Luminosity upgrade to the Large Hadron Collider, or HL-LHC. This upgrade will increase the amount of data collected from particle collisions by an order of magnitude and enable new insights into rare physical phenomena. But how can scientists be sure that the new components will play together in harmony? According to CERN engineer Marta Bajko, this is the role of the HL-LHC string test, which is testing a line of interconnected magnets prior to their installation in the tunnel.

    “We are reproducing the section of the accelerator that will be on the left side of the CMS experiment,” said Bajko, who is leading the string test. “This will let us characterize the collective behavior of the components.”

    U.S. Reps. Keith Self, Brian Babin, Jay Obernolte and Sheri Biggs, with physicist Emmanuel Tsesmelis, discuss U.S. contributions to the high-luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider beside a U.S.-produced cryoassembly containing superconducting magnets at CERN’s Superconducting Magnet Test Facility in Switzerland on June 17, 2025. Pictured, from left: Self, Tsesmelis, Babin, Obernolte and Biggs. Credit: CERN

    The Large Hadron Collider is made from millions of pieces that work together to steer particles and accelerate them to just under the speed of light. The string test allows engineers to verify that the individually tested components of the upgrade — some of which were made and tested in America — can function cohesively before they are installed around the HL-LHC’s collision points 100 meters underground.

    “All the equipment is there,” said Giorgio Apollinari, a scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Laboratory and the project director of the HL-LHC Accelerator Upgrade Project. “Everything will operate at the nominal current; it’s the real LHC, but only 100 meters of it and not the full 27 kilometers.”

    Debuting in the string test are several components that were developed, assembled and tested at Fermilab. This includes four quadrupole accelerator magnets, which were shipped from Fermilab to CERN earlier this year.

    “They were the final piece of the puzzle,” Bajko said.

    These quadrupoles are 25 tons each and contain everything needed to focus the proton beams that will pass through their cores, including coils made from a new type of superconducting material.

    “They are all based on this niobium-three-tin technology, which we as humanity are using for the first time in an accelerator,” Apollinari said.

    A U.S.-produced cryoassembly for the high-luminosity upgrade to the Large Hadron Collider is moved from the testing facility at Fermilab in preparation for shipment to CERN, on Sept. 25, 2023. Credit: Ryan Postel, Fermilab

    According to Apollinari, the current LHC magnets are made from coils of niobium-titanium, a flexible superconductor that can achieve a magnetic field in a particle accelerator of up to 8 tesla, which is approximately 8,000 times stronger than a typical fridge magnet. But this is not strong enough for the planned high luminosity upgrade, which will pack twice as many protons into an even smaller beam volume. By contrast, niobium-three-tin can carry more current and reach magnetic fields around 50% higher than niobium titanium. The problem is that niobium-three-tin is difficult to work with.

    “It is very brittle since it requires a high temperature heat treatment to make it into a superconductor,” Apollinari said.

    While CERN was constructing the LHC in the late 2000s, scientists in the U.S. started experimenting with niobium-three-tin as the basis for future LHC accelerator magnets.

    “Our American colleagues were the pioneers of this new technology,” Bajko said. “I was working on magnet design at the time, and two or three times a week, the Americans would wake up very early or we would stay at CERN very late so that we could discuss and exchange ideas.”

    Bajko recalls that CERN and Fermilab worked together so closely that they were eventually able to build coils that are identical.

    “We were able to put American coils and CERN coils into the same quadrupole,” Bajko said. “That was a very beautiful collaboration.”

    Scientists and engineers at both Fermilab and CERN have spent more than two decades preparing for the HL-LHC, and the string test is the final check before the new magnets are installed around the LHC’s collision points.

    According to Bajko, engineers recently finished connecting all the magnets and are currently pressure testing the entire system. In September, they plan to cool the chain down to minus 456.25 degrees Fahrenheit, which is just 1.8 degrees above absolute zero. Before the end of the year, she hopes to power-up the chain to 17,300 amps, which is equivalent to a bolt of lightning continuously running through the magnetic coils.

    “This is a huge project, and no one lab can do it alone,” Bajko said. “We need our partners, and we are happy that our partners have been there to share the technical challenges with us.”

    Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is America’s premier national laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research. Fermi Forward Discovery Group manages Fermilab for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. Visit Fermilab’s website at www.fnal.gov and follow us on social media.

    HL-LHC Accelerator Upgrade Project receives approval to move full-speed-ahead from Department of Energy

    February 10, 2021

    The U.S. Department of Energy has given the U.S. High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider Accelerator Upgrade Project approval to move full-speed-ahead in building and delivering components for the HL-LHC, specifically, cutting-edge magnets and accelerator cavities that will enable more rapid-fire collisions at the collider. The collider upgrades will allow physicists to study particles such as the Higgs boson in greater detail and reveal rare new physics phenomena. The U.S. collaborators on the project may now move into production mode.

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  • Google Reportedly Working on a Mysterious ‘Magic View’ for NotebookLM

    Google Reportedly Working on a Mysterious ‘Magic View’ for NotebookLM

    Google is continually expanding or strengthening the features for NotebookLM, its free AI-powered research assistant. An upcoming feature codenamed Magic View should be landing –eventually — in the Studio panel, alongside popular features like Audio and Video Overviews. 

    At the moment, there’s no clear indication as to what Magic View is or will do when it formally arrives in NotebookLM, but it’s clear that Google continues improving what I’d consider its best AI tool available today. 

    A representative for Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    The leak comes from AI news site, Testing Catalog, which has spotted several upcoming NotebookLM features through feature flag analysis and code review. 

    Although we had been expecting them for some time, Google officially released Video Overviews in late July, bringing a more visual approach to its successful Audio Overview feature that has since expanded into several other products in the tech giant’s portfolio. Whatever the actual function of the upcoming Magic View turns out to be, it appears to continue Google’s effort to visualize your data sources in one way or another. 

    Remember Lite Brite?

    A screenshot grabbed by Testing Catalog shows Magic View as a dotted grid with plot points filled in with different colors. If you remember the kids’ toy, Lite Brite, it sort of looks like that but with a larger grid. What the plot points represent could be an assortment of potential things, but we’ll hold any specific guesses until the picture becomes more clear. It wouldn’t at all be surprising if this Magic View is focused around learning or something aimed at students, as this is where NotebookLM shines.

    Like most features within the Studio panel of NotebookLM, this Magic View will be a feature you can optionally generate and it appears that it’ll be nestled under a Notebook Apps dropdown, which is also new. When they arrive, we’d also expect flash cards and interactive quizzes to find a home here, too. 

    There’s no date for the release, of course, since nothing has been announced. But don’t expect it soon. We would likely have a better idea of its function within the code if it was built out further. Since it’s not, the feature is likely in early development.

    For more, don’t miss the 11 things for which you should stop using ChatGPT.


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  • Fabry test using kidney cells could replace biopsy, study shows

    Fabry test using kidney cells could replace biopsy, study shows

    Analyses of kidney cells collected from urine samples could offer new ways of diagnosing Fabry disease and monitoring responses to treatment, a study showed.

    Human urine-derived renal epithelial cells (hURECs) collected from a man with Fabry showed signs of kidney damage similar to the disease hallmarks that are seen with a more invasive kidney biopsy, the researchers said.

    Gene activity analyses of the cells revealed alterations that were partially normalized with treatment, offering a way to monitor therapeutic responses.

    “hURECs are a valuable non-invasive tool to [diagnose] and monitor the treatment of Fabry disease, and implementing this into clinical use should be a priority,” researchers wrote.

    The study, “Urine-derived renal epithelial cells for deep phenotyping and transcriptomic response to therapy in Fabry disease,” was published in Clinical Science. It was funded by Sanofi, which markets the Fabry treatment Fabrazyme (agalsidase beta).

    Recommended Reading

    Biopsy is reliable, but invasive, diagnostic tool

    Fabry disease is an inherited disorder wherein a fatty substance called globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) accumulates in the body’s tissues and causes damage. Kidney problems are common, and can eventually lead to kidney failure.

    The most reliable method for diagnosing kidney involvement in people with Fabry is a kidney biopsy, where a sample of kidney tissue is collected for analysis under a microscope, but this is an invasive procedure. Other urine and blood biomarkers may not detect kidney disease until it is in later, irreversible stages.

    hURECs originate in the kidneys and are excreted in urine. A possible approach to monitoring kidney function in Fabry is to collect these cells and analyze them for alterations suggestive of kidney harm, according to the researchers.

    “As urine samples are readily available and non-invasive, hURECs have the potential to provide a large population of cells for downstream analysis of disease phenotypes [characteristics], pathophysiological mechanisms, and response to therapies,” they wrote.

    The scientists analyzed hURECs from a man recently diagnosed with Fabry disease after he came to the clinic with severe abdominal pain.

    Blood and urine tests gave evidence of kidney damage, and a kidney biopsy confirmed standard signs of Fabry-related kidney disease. Genetic testing confirmed a Fabry diagnosis.

    Urine samples were collected to obtain and analyze hURECs. The cells showed characteristic features of Fabry-related kidney damage under a microscope, consistent with the biopsy findings.

    That suggests that noninvasive hUREC analyses “could be a useful diagnostic tool in place of a kidney biopsy,” the researchers wrote.

    Gene activity analyses revealed that hundreds of genes were altered in the man’s kidney cells relative to cells collected from people without Fabry disease (a control group).

    The ones that showed the most substantially increased activity were related to fat transport and inflammation. Those that were most substantially decreased tended to often be related to the extracellular matrix (ECM), the protein network that gives cells support.

    Further analyses overall revealed dysregulation of processes known to be involved in Fabry kidney disease, including fat maintenance, cellular stress responses, and ECM organization.

    The man was started on the oral chaperone therapy Galafold (migalastat). His kidney function still declined, so he was switched to enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) a little over a year after his diagnosis. However, kidney function appeared to continue declining.

    New urine samples were collected, and follow-up assessments revealed an “appreciable reduction” in signs of Fabry-related kidney damage in the hURECs after treatment began, according to the authors.

    After four to five months on Galafold, there was a shift in the gene activity profile of the hURECs, where many genes that had altered activity before treatment started moving in a more normal direction.

    However, after nine months, the profile returned to a pre-treatment state, which the researchers said suggested “diminishing effects over time.” A couple of months after the switch to ERT, gene activity started to again move in a more normal direction.

    “These findings suggest that although the chaperone therapy provided an initial transient benefit, ERT may offer a more consistent and sustained amelioration of the disease-associated pathways in the kidney,” the researchers wrote.

    The researchers also developed a scoring system to compare the overall gene activity profile of a Fabry patient’s hURECs to that of healthy people.

    “We anticipate that, following further validation with additional Fabry nephropathy [kidney disease] patients, this scoring approach could serve as a real-time indicator of therapeutic success in future clinical studies of Fabry nephropathy patients,” the scientists wrote.

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