Williams Racing Driver Academy member Lia Block swapped asphalt for gravel last weekend, making a triumphant return to rallying with victory in the L4WD class at the Boone Forest Rally.
In her first rally outing in a year – and first time driving this car – Lia and co-driver Rhianon Gelsomino mastered the Kentucky stages to take class honours and an impressive P3 overall. The result also maintained the pair’s perfect record together, extending their streak to seven podiums from seven rallies.
The American teenager, who competes in F1 Academy with ART Grand Prix, is no stranger to rally success. She was crowned O2WD champion in the American Rally Association at just 16, and has multiple rally wins to her name.
Champagne celebrations for Lia and Rhianon
“WINNERS!!! What a rally, and what a team,” Lia posted on Instagram. “1st in the L4WD class and even 3rd overall. First time in this car and first rally in a year.
“So nice to be smelling of champagne right now… it’s been a while. Rhianon and I are now 7 for 7 on podiums for rallies we have done together, could never do it without her.”
Lia will now return to her F1 Academy duties, switching the gravel roads of Kentucky for the sand dunes of Zandvoort later this month.
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In euthyroid patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), relatively higher free triiodothyronine (FT3) levels within the normal range were linked to a lower risk for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and better nerve function.
METHODOLOGY:
In euthyroid patients with T2D, lower FT3 levels within the normal range can worsen glucose and lipid metabolism and increase the risk for nephropathy and retinopathy, but the association of FT3 levels with peripheral neuropathy remains unclear.
Researchers in China examined the relationship between FT3 levels and diabetic peripheral neuropathy in 1422 euthyroid patients with T2D (mean age, 58.04 years; 33.97% women) who underwent electromyography during hospitalization.
Participants were considered euthyroid if their thyroid-stimulating hormone level was 0.25-5.5 IU/mL, free thyroxine level was 9.0-25.5 pmol/L, and FT3 level was 2.5-7.0 pmol/L.
A diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy was made in those who showed neuropathic symptoms (neuropathic pain, paresthesias, numbness, sensory distortion, unsteadiness, or falls) and signs (pain sensation abnormalities, vibration sensation abnormalities, loss of the ankle reflex, touch/pressure sensation abnormalities, or temperature sensation abnormalities) during or after confirmed diabetes diagnosis.
Nerve conduction studies of the distal limbs (median, ulnar, common peroneal, sural, and superficial peroneal nerves) were conducted in all participants, and distal motor and sensory nerve latencies, action potential amplitudes, and conduction velocities of motor and sensory nerves were recorded.
TAKEAWAY:
Among all participants with T2D, the 519 who were diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy showed significantly lower serum FT3 levels than those without the condition (P < .001).
The risk for diabetic peripheral neuropathy was reduced in participants with FT3 levels between 4.3 and 4.7 pmol/L (odds ratio [OR], 0.57; 95% CI, 0.39-0.81) and 4.7 and 7.0 pmol/L (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.21-0.52) compared with those with FT3 levels between 2.5 and 3.8 pmol/L.
Participants with neuropathy had slower, weaker nerve responses and longer latencies than those without, with higher FT3 levels in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy being linked to faster nerve conduction and shorter latencies.
A Mendelian randomization analysis using the ThyroidOmics Consortium and the UK Biobank genome-wide association study data also indicated a causal relationship between low FT3 levels and the risk for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (inverse variance weighted β = -0.655; P = .035).
IN PRACTICE:
“Within the normal range, a relatively high level of FT3 (> 4.3 pmol/L) was associated with a reduced risk of DPN [diabetic peripheral neuropathy]. Thyroid hormones may be beneficial for patients with DPN if their FT3 levels are near the low end of the normal range,” the authors of the study wrote.
SOURCE:
This study was led by Bing’er Xu, Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. It was published online in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
LIMITATIONS:
This study was limited by its single-center design and focused on hospitalized patients with T2D in Shanghai. It measured only specific peripheral nerves’ conduction parameters. The Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted only in Europeans, requiring validation in other ethnic populations.
DISCLOSURES:
This study received support from the National Science and Technology Major Project, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, and other sources. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
LONDON, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Global Brands Magazine proudly names Scarlet Royal the ‘Most Impactful Branding Agency’ for 2025, recognizing their transformative branding solutions. This award celebrates Scarlet Royal’s expertise in creating compelling brand identities that drive recognition, trust, and connection in competitive markets.
The Global Brand Awards celebrate outstanding achievements across industries worldwide. Scarlet Royal earned this recognition for the innovative approach in crafting memorable experiences, helping businesses stand out.
Jay Reddy, CEO of Global Brands Magazine, stated, “Scarlet Royal’s ability to deliver innovative and impactful branding solutions sets them apart. Their dedication to excellence makes them a worthy recipient of this prestigious award.”
Waseem Ibrahim, Chairman of Scarlet Royal, stated, “Strong brands are not shaped in the marketing department alone, they are orchestrated across every corner of the organization.
At Scarlet Royal, we believe that branding is not a departmentit is a discipline woven into the culture, operations, and mindset of the entire organization. Every action, interaction, and detailwhether internal or externalcontributes to the cumulative impression a brand leaves behind. It is through this lens that we approach brand building: not as a visual or verbal identity alone, but as a multi-sensory, multi-dimensional experience. From frontline communication to back-end precision, from tone of voice to operational transparency, every touchpoint serves as an opportunity to reinforce trust, elevate perception, and deepen connection. When consistently aligned, these touchpoints create a resonance so strong that the brand becomes not just recognizedbut felt.”
ABOUT SCARLET ROYAL
Scarlet Royal builds brands that move markets before saying a word.
We create demand through precision. Every decision strategic, visual, verbal, and operational is engineered to build advantage where it matters most: in perception, in influence, and in control. A brand built with Scarlet Royal doesn’t wait to be noticed. It occupies space. It shapes opinion. It drives action.
Our work begins long before design. We explore the tensions beneath your category, the motivations driving your audience, and the unwritten rules holding your competitors in place. Then, we design a brand that rewrites those rules and positions you as the one who set them.
Scarlet Royal partners with founders who build for legacy, not convenience. With institutions that understand power isn’t given it’s designed, reinforced, and earned through every brand interaction.
If you’re building something meant to last, something meant to lead, Scarlet Royal gives your ambition the structure, clarity, and momentum it deserves.
This is where brands stop reacting and start dictating.
ABOUT GLOBAL BRANDS MAGAZINE
Based in the UK, Global Brands Magazine (GBM) is a leading publication delivering insights, news, and opinions on brands shaping their industries. With over 8.4 million annual visitors and 14 million page views, GBM is a premier source of brand-related content. The magazine boasts a strong social media presence, with 35,000+ Facebook followers, 20,000+ Instagram followers, 25,000+ X followers, and 4,000+ LinkedIn followers.
ABOUT THE GLOBAL BRAND AWARDS
The Global Brand Awards recognise excellence in brand performance across sectors such as finance, education, hospitality, and technology. Hosted at iconic venues like The Address Downtown, Waldorf Astoria, and Grand Hyatt Dubai, the 2025 ceremony continued this tradition of grandeur at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
For a complete list of winners, visit: https://www.globalbrandsmagazine.com/brand-awards-winners/.
To nominate a company or leader for the Global Brand Awards 2025, visit: https://www.globalbrandsmagazine.com/nomination-form/.
Three Norwegian Ski Jumping officials and two athletes have been charged for violations of the FIS Universal Code of Ethics and the FIS Rules on the Prevention of Manipulation of Competitions as a result of an investigation conducted by the FIS Independent Ethics and Compliance Office (IECO) that started shortly after allegations of illegal equipment manipulation at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships Trondheim 2025.
The cases of Norway’s team coach Magnus Brevik, assistant coach Thomas Lobben, service staff member Adrian Livelten, as well as of athletes Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang, will now be referred to the FIS Ethics Committee (FEC) for adjudication.
The decisions
After the IECO completed its investigation and submitted its report to the FIS Integrity Director, the process for deciding whether to bring charges against various individuals was as follows:
The IECO and the FIS Integrity Department agreed to bring charges against Magnus Brevik, Thomas Lobben, and Adrian Livelten for violations both of the FIS Universal Code of Ethics and the FIS Rules on the Prevention of Manipulation of Competitions. Therefore, in accordance with the FIS IECO Procedural Rules, the matter has been referred directly to the FIS Ethics Committee.
In accordance with the FIS IECO Procedural Rules, the decision on whether to bring charges against Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang was taken to the FIS Council, which voted to bring charges against the two athletes for violations both of the FIS Universal Code of Ethics and the FIS Rules on the Prevention of Manipulation of Competitions. Accordingly, the cases have been referred to the FIS Ethics Committee.
The IECO and the FIS Integrity Department agreed not to bring charges against any other athlete or member of the Norwegian National Ski Association or any other party connected to the investigation. In accordance with the FIS IECO Procedural Rules, the decision was submitted to the FIS Council, which confirmed that all matters are closed in respect of all other individuals connected to this investigation.
The next steps The FIS Ethics Committee will now consider the IECO’s investigation report and decide on whether there have been infringements of the FIS Universal Code of Ethics and/or the FIS Rules on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions.
A panel of three unconflicted members of the FEC will be appointed by the Chair of the FEC to adjudicate the case. The chairperson of the panel will contact the interested parties to communicate the next procedural steps, which may involve convening a hearing or otherwise coordinating further submissions from concerned parties.
After the conclusion of the hearing process, the FEC will announce its decision whether to impose any sanctions on any of the parties no later than 30 days after the hearing process is concluded.
Other relevant questions and answers
What sanctions are available to the FEC? The sanctioning powers of the FEC include imposition of a period of ineligibility, financial sanctions, or disqualification of results.
Any period of ineligibility will start on the date the decision of the FEC is published. The panel may, at its sole discretion, reduce the period of ineligibility based on any period of provisional suspension already served prior to the decision being reached.
What will be communicated by the FEC after it has reached its conclusion? If the conclusion by the FEC is that a violation of the FIS Universal Code of Ethics or the FIS Rules on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions has been committed, the decision will be publicly disclosed in full − after prior notice is given to the interested parties − no later than 20 days after it is issued.
If a person is exonerated of all charges, then the decision may only be publicly disclosed with the consent of the person who is the subject of the decision. However, the FEC may publicly disclose the fact that the charge has been dismissed.
What is the appeal process on any potential sanctions? An aggrieved party can appeal against any sanction to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. FIS may also appeal against any decision by the FEC not to apply a sanction.
What exactly did the IECO investigate?
The terms of reference of the IECO investigation were to examine whether there had been any violations of the FIS Universal Code of Ethics and/or the FIS Rules on the Prevention of Manipulation of Competitions. Specifically, the IECO investigation looked at five key issues, i.e. whether:
coaches Magnus Brevig and Thomas Lobben and suit technician acted in violation of the rules in orchestrating the equipment manipulation;
athletes Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang knowingly acted in contravention of relevant FIS rules;
the conspiracy spread further in the team, either to other athletes or other staff members of the Norwegian NSA;
the Norwegian team had engaged in the same or similar equipment violations in the past; and/or
the conspiracy spread to other teams.
Who gets to see the IECO investigation report?
The FIS Integrity Director is in possession of the report, which is the result of a thorough investigation process that included 38 key witness interviews and the examination of 88 key exhibits.
The FIS Council has received a redacted summary of the report and a verbal debrief to help them come to a decision as to whether to bring charges against the individuals considered in the report.
Recipients of Notices of Charge have also received redacted versions of the report including findings in relation to their respective involvement only. The FEC has been copied as a recipient of these Notices of Charge and therefore of the same redacted versions as the recipients.
All other parties concerned have been or will be offered a verbal debrief of the report with the IECO and the Lead Investigator.
Most things went smoothly for the Ivorian in 2024. After qualifying for the 100m final, she had the same hope — could this finally be the year an African athlete reaches the Olympic podium in a sprint event?
She had been at this for so long. The three-time world medallist left a lot behind, choosing to pursue a track career instead of attending medical school. At 35, Paris was her best chance for success after previous Olympic near-misses.
She finished fourth in both the 100m and 200m at Rio 2016. In Tokyo, she again placed fourth in the short sprint, behind Elaine Thompson-Herah, and fifth in the 200m.
Ta Lou-Smith has suffered from back pain for most of her career, and it came back at the beginning of the Olympic year. Her spine has an irregular curve, which makes her prone to knee, hamstring and shoulder injuries.
Despite this, she has bravely carried the hopes of the continent.
In Paris, Ta-Lou-Smith was forced to put an end to her Olympic quest early in the competition and for the first time since Beijing 2008, Africa had no representative in the women’s 200m final.
“Every time that I fail, I feel like I let down the country, the continent, so many people who trust and believe in me,” said Ta Lou. She also knew that no African had ever clinched a medal in the modern Games’ men’s or women’s sprints before Botswana’s star Letsile Tebogo took gold in the 200m final in Paris.
“But seeing all the comments, and all the people who still tell me that I’m an inspiration for them, gave me the strength to continue and not give up.
“After the 100m, I remember I also talked to Shericka Jackson. She was really helpful, she encouraged me. We talked for about 20 minutes just around the track. Jackson and everyone else I spoke to told me that maybe I need time for myself, to think, rest my body and my mind and then come back slowly, slowly. They told me, ‘Don’t rush, take your time and fully enjoy what you are doing’.”
Biogen and Stoke Therapeutics Announce First Patient Dosed in Phase 3 EMPEROR Study of Zorevunersen, a Potential Disease-Modifying Treatment for Dravet Syndrome Biogen
Dravet children sought in US for clinical trial testing zorevunersen Dravet Syndrome News
Stoke Therapeutics and Biogen Announce First Patient Dosed in Phase 3 EMPEROR Study of Zorevunersen, a Potential Disease-Modifying Treatment for Dravet Syndrome Business Wire
Experts have created a customizable, web-based tool that provides state and local leaders with tailored resources to reduce lung cancer mortality rates and advance treatment. The tool’s development and features are described in an article published by Wiley online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.
Although lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer and cancer deaths worldwide, screening rates have remained low, leading to delayed diagnoses and care and ultimately resulting in high mortality rates.
To reduce lung cancer deaths, the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable (ACS NLCRT) was founded in 2017 to unite public, private, and non-profit groups, with more than 200 leading patient advocacy organizations, professional medical societies, state and federal government agencies, cancer centers, academic institutions, health systems, health plans, and corporate associations joining together to lend their expertise. Among its 10 task groups, the State-Based Initiatives (SBI) Task Group was charged to provide states with tailored resources, best practices, and implementation strategies to address lung cancer, and to create a centralized, web-based tool.
The SBI Planning Tool was developed through meetings, interviews, and usability testing, and the website’s content, layout, and navigability were reviewed biweekly. User feedback was also gathered through surveys. The developers made an effort to allow users to navigate the webpage towards tailored recommendations based on their needs because every state or region has unique challenges and assets dependent on existing work in lung cancer, availability of funds, policies in place, levels of provider engagement, and community perceptions.
Also, as limiting interventions to better-resourced communities without including underserved areas could worsen geographic, demographic, and cultural disparities in lung cancer outcomes, a focus on health equity was integrated throughout the SBI Planning Tool.
Before the ACS NLCRT was established, but more so after, state coalitions focused on public health initiatives to reduce lung cancer deaths have sprung up. It is often said that ‘all public health is local,’ and the aim of the ACS NLCRT State-Based Initiatives Task Group is to give local leaders, health care professionals, and advocates the tools to efficiently and effectively develop tailored programs to advance lung cancer control in their state. Among the many achievements of the ACS NLCRT, the development of the SBI Planning tool ranks high on the list.”
Robert Smith, PhD, senior author, American Cancer Society
Source:
Journal reference:
Olson, J. M. G., et al. (2025) The American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable strategic plan: Addressing planning for lung cancer interventions at the state and local level through the creation of the National Lung Cancer Roundtable Planning Tool. CANCER. doi.org/10.1002/cncr.35954.
But Whitehouse presented a third line of evidence to dispute the 3.95 billion-year date: isotopes of hafnium in the same zombie zircon crystals.
The technique relies on radioactive decay of lutetium–176 to hafnium–176. If the 2.8-billion-year age resulted from rejuvenation by later heating, it would have had to have formed from material with a hafnium isotope ratio incompatible with the isotope composition of the early Earth.
“They go to impossible numbers,” said Whitehouse.
The only way that the uranium-lead ratio can be compatible with the hafnium in the zircons, Whitehouse argued, is if the zircons that settled in the silt had crystallized around 2.8 billion years ago, constraining the organic carbon to being no older than that.
The new oldest remains of life on Earth, for now
If the Labrador carbon is no longer the oldest trace of life on Earth, then where are the oldest remains of life now?
For Whitehouse, it’s in the 3.77-billion-year-old Isua Greenstone Belt in Greenland: “I’m willing to believe that’s a well-documented age… that’s what I think is the best evidence for the oldest biogenicity that we have,” said Whitehouse.
O’Neil recently co-authored a paper on Earth’s oldest surviving crustal rocks, located next to Hudson Bay in Canada. He points there. “I would say it’s in the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone belt,” said O’Neil, “because I would argue that these rocks are 4.3 billion years old. Again, not everybody agrees!” Intriguingly, the rocks he is referring to contain carbon with a possibly biological origin and are thought to be the remains of the kind of undersea vent where life could well have first emerged.
But the bigger picture is the fact that we have credible traces of life of this vintage—be it 3.8 or 3.9 or 4.3 billion years.
Any of those dates is remarkably early in the planet’s 4.6-billion-year life. It’s long before there was an oxygenated atmosphere, before continents emerged above sea level, and before plate tectonics got going. It’s also much older than the oldest microbial “stromatolite” fossils, which have been dated to about 3.48 billion years ago.
O’Neil thinks that once conditions on Earth were habitable, life would have emerged relatively fast:
“To me, it’s not shocking, because the conditions were the same,” he said. “The Earth has the luxury of time… but biology is very quick. So if all the conditions were there by 4.3 billion years old, why would biology wait 500 million years to start?”
Apple season is upon us! No, I’m not talking cider and hayrides (although that’s coming too). We’re just weeks away from seeing the tech giant’s next batch of products, including the next Apple Watch. According to German phone carrier iPhone Ticker (first flagged by Apple Insider) Apple is gearing up for a launch event on Sept. 9; right on target with its typical fall product cycle.
The Series 11 is the likely candidate, but as the rumor mill picks up speed, there’s growing buzz that Apple could also unveil an Apple Watch Ultra 3 and a next-gen Apple Watch SE alongside it. And this time, it’s not all speculation. Apple CEO Tim Cook just revealed that all Apple Watches and iPhones will be sporting US-made cover glass manufacturing at glass giant Corning’s plant in Kentucky, as part of a broader push to invest in domestic production.
Apple may have also tipped its hand on the Ultra 3, after MacRumors uncovered imagery buried in the iOS 26 public beta showing display details for what’s likely the next-generation rugged watch.
With September fast approaching, the clues are stacking up. Here’s a breakdown of everything we know, suspect and can reasonably expect from Apple’s 2025 smartwatch lineup.
Apple Watch Series 11 launch date
Unless there’s a massive glitch in the universe, we can expect the Apple Watch Series 11 to arrive this September alongside the rumored iPhone 17. Not only does this follow the same launch cycle as previous years (dating back to the first-gen Apple Watch), but we now have even more reason to save the date. According to German phone carrier iPhone Ticker, as first flagged by Apple Insider, the company is preparing for a launch event on Tuesday, Sept. 9. That timing would align perfectly with last year’s Glowtime event, which also took place on Sept. 9 (a Monday in that case).
What’s less predictable is the exact release date. Traditionally, new models go on sale anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks after the keynote. This year, that could mean preorders opening on Friday, Sept. 12, with availability starting the following Friday, Sept. 19. That said, recent years have seen delays due to production issues, and it’s still unclear how newly imposed tariffs might affect both the launch timing and pricing in 2025.
CNET
How many Apple Watches will we get?
Based on the usual update cycle and now the latest clues in iOS 26, we’re at least getting a flagship (Series 11) and an Apple Watch Ultra 3. Also likely, but not confirmed, is the possibility of getting a next-gen SE model, according to a report from Bloomberg’s Apple analyst Mark Gurman. The Apple Watch Ultra and the cheaper SE line haven’t exactly followed a predictable upgrade cycle, but last year’s absence could prove a strong clue that 2025 could be the year we get all three again. The Series 10 took the spotlight in 2024 as the only smartwatch announced that year. The new Ultra and Series 11 are mostly expected to look the same, while the SE could be getting a refreshed exterior, according to Gurman. And the Ultra could get satellite connectivity and 5G RedCap network access that would bring even the most remote adventures “on the grid”.
James Martin/CNET
Apple Watch Series 11 design
The Series 11 is expected to keep the slim, flat-edged design introduced on the Series 10 (42mm and 46mm), but Apple’s new Corning partnership means all of the glass protecting the display will be made in the US. Not only does the news make for a great marketing bullet; it could also hint at improved durability, sustainability benefits, and potentially faster repair turnarounds if replacement glass is sourced domestically.
According to MacRumors, the Apple Watch might get a more energy-efficient screen, maybe an LTPO display with higher resolution and better brightness, which, on paper, could help improve the battery life.
This would coincide with what we just learned about the Ultra 3. If the leaked iOS 26 imagery holds true, it will have a slightly larger screen with a 422×514-pixel resolution (up from the Ultra 2’s 410×502 pixels). This could be achieved by slimming down the bezels while keeping the same overall case size, in keeping with Apple’s tradition of maximizing screen real estate without making the already-large Ultra any bulkier.
Processor and performance
Apple is expected to debut its new S11 chip in the Series 11 and Ultra 3, promising more efficiency and potentially better battery life. The SE could see a jump to the S9 chip.
According to MacRumors, the Apple Watch might get a more energy-efficient screen, maybe an LTPO display with higher resolution and better brightness, which, on paper, could help improve the battery life. This could be reserved for the higher-end Ultra 3, which will likely otherwise keep its original design.
The more adorable SE, however, could see a more extensive design overhaul. It would still have the body of the Series 8 and, according to Gurman, get several upgrades from the Series 10, like an always-on display.
Apple Watch Series 11 processor
Apple typically bumps up the processor with every new smartwatch, so we should see an Apple S11 chip this time around for at least the Series 11 and Ultra 3. The Ultra 3 is also rumored to get satellite connectivity and 5G support, but according to Gurman, these features likely won’t make it to the Series 11. Considering last gen’s upgrade cycle, my personal bet would also be on the SE getting a processor bump up to the S9 chip, currently found in the Ultra 2 and the Apple Watch Series 9.
The Series 10 charges faster than earlier Apple Watches, but the battery lasts the same length of time.
Celso Bulgatti/CNET
Apple Watch Series 11 battery
If there’s one thing on everyone’s wishlist, it’s better battery life. The Series 10 introduced faster charging — 0% to 80% in just 30 minutes compared with 90 minutes on previous models — but there’s room for improvement in battery capacity itself.
While there aren’t any rumors indicating that new Apple Watches will get a longer battery life, I truly hope Apple addresses the battery because its smartwatches are falling behind. Some Android models use dual chipsets to divide tasks and optimize battery life. I’d like to see Apple adopt a similar strategy and finally push battery life to two full days on a single charge for regular models. I hope the Ultra, which currently gets a full 72 hours on a charge, gets the faster charging and pushes its battery life limits to four full days.
Apple Watch Series 11 price
Based on current pricing, the Apple Watch Series 11 could cost $399 for the 42mm aluminum version and $429 for the 46mm version, with upgrades for cover material and LTE connectivity costing extra. That is, unless recently enacted tariffs play a part in pricing this year, which remains to be seen. The other question is what the most expensive variant will be — solid gold, diamond-encrusted Hermès, anyone?
Getty Images/Tharon Green/CNET
Apple Watch health and fitness upgrades
There’s been a persistent rumor about blood pressure tracking finally making its way to the Apple Watch, but it’s unclear when it will be ready. According to a March report from Gurman, Apple has already been testing the feature in its smartwatch but has run into problems. Other wearables health companies like Omron and Med-Watch have proven it’s possible to measure blood pressure from the wrist, but adding this feature would likely require new sensors and a bulkier design. It would also be less precise than dedicated health devices like Omron’s and measure baseline metrics like the Galaxy Watch 7 and Ultra (which isn’t supported on Samsung watches in the US).
Blood pressure and glucose monitoring have also been thrown in the mix, but the latter might not be fully baked for this cycle according to Gurman. Lastly, the blood oxygen feature that debuted on the Series 6 likely won’t be making a comeback this year as Apple is still navigating legal issues related to it.
Level
A WatchOS glow-up on the Series 11
Apple also gave us a preview of the new interface for the Apple Watch with WatchOS 26 at its developers conference in June. The new UI update includes a new “Liquid Glass” display with glassy, transparent design language that mimics the one seen in visionOS.
The redesign features clear overlays for icons and notifications, resulting in a more uniform look and feel across Apple’s ecosystem. Google made a similar move with its redesigned UI, Material 3 Expressive, for Android phones and smartwatches with Wear OS 6.
Want a full breakdown of everything Apple announced, including the new iOS 26 and its eye-catching Liquid Glass design? Here’s everything you missed at WWDC 2025.
Health and fitness coaching
WatchOS 26 also introduced an AI-powered Workout Buddy to the Apple Watch, offering encouragement and real-time feedback during specific workouts. Most of the heavy lifting will happen on the iPhone, meaning the feature requires pairing the watch with a newer Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone. The Series 11 (and Ultra 3) could push this further by leveraging their more powerful chipset.
This could include coaching that goes beyond just the workout app, potentially debuting on the Series 11 and then also rolling out to compatible Apple Watches. According to Gurman, Apple has been working on a major Health app revamp, code-named Project Mulberry, that would bring AI recommendations and actionable health and fitness insights to users. The new “Health Plus” app would likely arrive as part of an iOS 19 update, working in tandem with WatchOS 11 to gather and process data. Though it’s still unclear which devices would support it, we could get a first look as early as June 2025 at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).
Health coaching is something other competitors, like Garmin and Fitbit, offer through their platforms via premium (paid) subscriptions. It’s not clear whether Apple would charge extra for these features, or if they’d be baked into the standard Health app at no additional cost.
The Apple Watch could take some design cues from visionOS on the Apple Vision Pro headset.
Apple/Screenshot by CNET
Additional future Apple Watch surprises
There’s another rumor floating around that the Apple Watch could get a camera — not for selfies, but for AI-based image recognition. With the release of Apple Intelligence, Apple introduced a visual search tool on the iPhone that uses the camera to provide relevant information about objects and places.
According to a report by Gurman, Apple is exploring this option, and even if the company decides to move forward with the technology, it likely wouldn’t make its way to the Apple Watch until the 2027 models. While it’s not expected for this launch, it could hint what kind of AI integration will arrive with WatchOS 12. By contrast, WatchOS 11 lacks any Apple Intelligence features.
A foldable Apple Watch concept published in the US Patent Application Publication in March, 2025.
United States Patent Application Publication
An even further-fetched clue hints at a foldable Apple Watch with two cameras. A recent Apple patent, first uncovered by Patently Apple, and published by the US Patent and Trademark Office in March, details an Apple Watch design featuring a foldable screen and another with a dual-screen display that either folds or slides out. The additional screens could give the Apple Watch more real estate to expand its functionality and make it less reliant on the iPhone. The same patent also points to the possibility of two cameras on this dual-screened watch for either AI processing or video calls. Apple often files patents well before any related technology appears in an actual product, so even if this concept does live to see the light of day, we’re not expecting it to make its public debut anytime soon.
Just next door in cosmic terms, astronomers may have spotted a new planetary neighbour – a gas giant circling Alpha Centauri A, the closest Sun-like star to Earth.
Located a mere four light-years away, this possible Saturn-sized world was detected by the James Webb Space Telescope in its most challenging exoplanet hunt yet.
If confirmed, it would be the closest planet ever found in the habitable zone of a Sun-like star, offering an unprecedented glimpse into a nearby solar system.
Alpha Centauri: Our closest cosmic neighbour
Visible from Earth’s Southern Hemisphere, the Alpha Centauri system consists of three stars: the Sun-like pair Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B, plus the faint red dwarf Proxima Centauri.
Proxima is already known to host three confirmed planets, but finding worlds around the brighter A and B stars has proven far more challenging.
Alpha Centauri A is the third-brightest star in our night sky, and its close companion B makes observations complex. Any planetary discovery here would offer an unprecedented opportunity to study a nearby solar system in detail.
Cutting-edge observations with Webb
The breakthrough came from Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), which used a coronagraphic mask to block the glare of Alpha Centauri A.
In August 2024, astronomers detected a faint object over 10,000 times dimmer than the star located at about twice the Earth-Sun distance.
Because Alpha Centauri B sits nearby, its extra light complicated the analysis. Careful subtraction of both stars’ glow revealed the mysterious candidate, sparking excitement among the team.
Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, DSS, A. Sanghi (Caltech), C. Beichman (JPL), D. Mawet (Caltech), J. DePasquale (STScI)
The mystery of the disappearing planet
Follow-up observations in February and April 2025, using Webb’s Director’s Discretionary Time, failed to spot the object again.
Rather than dismissing the find, scientists ran millions of computer simulations to model potential orbits.
Results showed that in nearly half the scenarios, the planet would have moved too close to Alpha Centauri A during those later observations, hiding it from Webb’s view.
The models suggest a gas giant roughly the mass of Saturn, travelling in an elliptical path that ranges from one to two times Earth’s orbital distance from the Sun.
This is not the first time Alpha Centauri A has teased astronomers. In 2019, the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope recorded a potential exoplanet in the system.
The new Webb data, combined with that earlier hint, strengthens the case for a genuine planetary companion.
Why this potential gas giant matters
If the detection holds, this would be the closest directly imaged planet to a Sun-like star and the most similar in temperature and age to our own gas giant planets. It would also be the nearest such world to Earth, making it an ideal candidate for future study.
Its presence in a binary system would also challenge existing models of planet formation, survival, and stability in dynamic environments.
The find underscores how the James Webb Space Telescope is expanding our ability to image exoplanets directly – something that was once nearly impossible, especially around bright and nearby stars.
Further observations will be needed to confirm the gas giant’s existence and refine its orbit. If verified, the discovery could reshape the next decade of exoplanet science, offering the closest and clearest look yet at a planetary system beyond our own.
