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Science Tells Me How. God Tells Me Why.
A 13-year-old Christian at a public charter school writes about asking questions when science class seems to conflict with their faith, and why they are learning apologetics.
Hideo Kojima explains the surprise split with Sony
Celebrated game director Hideo Kojima wrestled with Sony’s surprise cancellation months before it went public, he said in an interview, fearing “our studio could collapse.”
Board risky trainees at an Oglesby business?
There is a shortage of workers trained to install big solar systems, so the industry is turning to ex-convicts and other risky candidates to do the jobs. An Oglesby company is taking that to the next level.
A new documentary traces the changing role of women in Texas Republican politics
New documentary, "Life of the Party," examines how women's roles in Texas Republican politics have changed over three decades through the experiences of Geanie Morrison, Sarah Davis and Mayra Flores.
‘Sweet Magnolias' Creator Breaks Silence on Show's Shocking Cancellation
Sweet Magnolias creator Sheryl J. Anderson just broke her silence after the show's shocking cancellation.
‘Sweet Magnolias' Creator Breaks Silence on Show's Shocking Cancellation
Sweet Magnolias creator Sheryl J. Anderson just broke her silence after the show's shocking cancellation.
‘Sweet Magnolias' Creator Breaks Silence on Show's Shocking Cancellation
Sweet Magnolias creator Sheryl J. Anderson just broke her silence after the show's shocking cancellation.
Auxerre only Ligue 1 side to make Anthony Martial approach
Anthony Martial’s (30) future is expected to be decided next week, L’Équipe understands. The Frenchman will not be making the move to Ligue 1, however. The publication understands that the former...
📚 Philly’s bookstore boom
Philadelphia bookstores are seeing a surge in sales. Plus: more people are composting; Temple police officer under investigation for alleged racist remarks; Johnny Doc is now a Republican.
Leftists make waves and Trump flexes muscles: US primary season takeaways
Candidates have been selected for November’s midterms – have Republicans and Democrats made the right choices?
Scientists heard a knock at the door. It was a pelican in need of help.
“This is kind of just a once-in a-lifetime experience,” said marine researcher Annsli Hilton.
I’m a pulmonologist. Here’s why new wellness claims about nicotine worry me.
Some wellness influencers are saying nicotine promotes cognition and longevity. Scientific studies, however, paint a more complicated picture.
Forum: Students ask about key issues
Abe Madkour answers college students’ sports business queries.
California Republicans walk tightrope as Trump jumps into campaigning
California Republicans running in the state's most competitive House races are appearing to keep some measure of public distance from Trump ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
‘The Life of the Party’ documentary explores women in Texas GOP
New documentary, “Life of the Party,” examines how women’s roles in Texas Republican politics have changed over three decades through the experiences of Geanie Morrison, Sarah Davis and Mayra...
1969 Elvis Presley Gem Was the Flip Side of a No. 3 Billboard Smash
While 'In the Ghetto' dominated the radio, its soulful B-side proved to be a masterpiece of its own.
1969 Elvis Presley Gem Was the Flip Side of a No. 3 Billboard Smash
While 'In the Ghetto' dominated the radio, its soulful B-side proved to be a masterpiece of its own.
Viggósdóttir leading Bayern to new home
Unterhaching will welcome visitors from the world of European football on Tuesday evening as Manchester City come to town and the Champions League makes its debut here. And for FC Bayern Women, it’s...
Like live music? How about free? Then this concert series is for you.
Exploration Place won a three-year Levitt Family Foundation grant for a concert series that started this fall.
Fast food from the US and China catches on in both countries
China and the United States are divided on many issues, from tariffs to Taiwan.
Mariska Hargitay Walked Onto a Set 27 Years Ago and Never Left It; No Actor in American Primetime Drama...
The two Emmys she won this month had nothing to do with Olivia Benson.
Mariska Hargitay Walked Onto a Set 27 Years Ago and Never Left It; No Actor in American Primetime Drama...
The two Emmys she won this month had nothing to do with Olivia Benson.
Woody Harrelson and His Wife Look So in Love on the Red Carpet
Now that's one happy couple.
3 science-backed home remedies to ease the common cold
Rest and hydration are essential, but these other strategies may also bring relief.
Trump and sons invest heavily in AI economy as he resists calls for slowdown
Trump’s decisions as president on one of the most consequential policy debates of his administration could affect the value of his personal investments.
The lowdown on FC Bayern Women’s first Champions League opponent
Like FC Bayern Women in Germany, Manchester City also claimed the domestic double last season after winning the Women’s Super League and FA Cup. The two teams now meet for the first time in the open...
1968 Monkees B-Side, Written by Mike Nesmith, Found New Life on a Hit 2020s Series
Decades after it was buried on the back of a hit single, 'Tapioca Tundra' entertained a whole new generation of 'Better Call Saul' fans.
Opinion | Postpartum moms need dedicated mental health support
Massachusetts has no inpatient unit where pregnant and postpartum moms can get tailored treatment.
Announcers, Referees and Jersey Combination for Cardinals Week 2 Game vs. Seahawks
Get the full Week 2 game details for Cardinals vs.
Trump used to slam China. Here's why he's now rolling out the red carpet for Xi
When Donald Trump ran for office a decade ago, he called China a menace to the U.S. economy
Trump used to slam China. Here’s why he’s now rolling out the red carpet for Xi
When Donald Trump ran for office a decade ago, he called China a menace to the U.S. economy.
‘2 Broke Girls' Star Posts Hilarious Message 15 Years After Hit CBS Show Debuted
15 years later, Kat Dennings looks back on '2 Broke Girls' with a hilarious message.
Ed Sheeran Cries Alone Onstage in Philadelphia: 'I Am Making Mistakes. I'm So, So Sorry. I Don't Want to...
Protesters gathered outside the venue as he addressed Gaza directly for the first time.
Melbourne Square held a free science event for children
Mad Science held an interactive event at Melbourne Square featuring optical illusions and detective science for kids.
1966 Rock Song, Written by Paul Simon, Was a 'Vicious' Dig at Bob Dylan
Years later, the iconic musicians ended up touring together.
Ed Sheeran Makes Huge Change to 'Loop Tour' Amid Macklemore Controversy
Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour looked very different from what fans may have expected when the singer-songwriter took to the stage in Philadelphia.
1985 Rock Song, Turned Down by Billy Idol, Became a Career-Defining No. 1 Hit
Before Simple Minds scored their No.
Republicans find transgender issues a powerful political weapon in midterm campaigning
He's unpopular, his war is going badly and the US economy is strained.Axios reported that Elon Musk's "America PAC" has begun an ad blitz attacking Democrats over their unpopular transgender positions...
There was a possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport
The city department of public health is notifying travelers and others of the possible exposure, which is unrelated to the recent measles exposures at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Bueckers, Wings handle business vs. Mercury to mark end of an era at College Park Center
ARLINGTON, Texas - The Dallas Wings have two more regular-season games remaining and a playoff run a...
1976 Power Ballad, Recorded in New York City, Became Iconic Band's Biggest Hit
This classic hit has become an iconic ballad.
1976 Power Ballad, Recorded in New York City, Became Iconic Band's Biggest Hit
This classic hit has become an iconic ballad.
1976 Power Ballad, Recorded in New York City, Became Iconic Band's Biggest Hit
This classic hit has become an iconic ballad.
1968 Pink Floyd Track That Damaged Roger Waters' Vocal Cords Is Still a Rock Masterpiece
The song was released in 1968.
1968 Pink Floyd Track That Damaged Roger Waters' Vocal Cords Is Still a Rock Masterpiece
The song was released in 1968.
1968 Pink Floyd Track That Damaged Roger Waters' Vocal Cords Is Still a Rock Masterpiece
The song was released in 1968.
Editorial | China must enforce high standards of integrity for scientists
Beijing’s ambitions for scientific leadership require not just investment but trust from the international community and the Chinese public.
Phila. health officials warn of possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is warning travelers about a possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport.
Annual rally at Boston Common draws thousands of marijuana advocates ahead of historic repeal vote
This year’s event billed itself as the “first overtly political” Freedom Rally since recreational marijuana was legalized across the state in 2016.
Is social media giving you health anxiety? Here's how to combat it
LONDON - Do you ever find yourself caught in a health advice doomscrolling session on TikTok late at...
Is social media giving you health anxiety? Here's how to combat it
LONDON - Do you ever find yourself caught in a health advice doomscrolling session on TikTok late at...
Health officials warn of recent measles exposure at PHL Airport
A person with measles traveled through PHL Airport this week, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health announced on Saturday.
News Outlets Express Solidarity After Trump Bars Some Reporters
Some Democrats said President Trump’s ban was an attempt to control the press and distract voters as Republicans face deep challenges in the midterm elections.
Michigan’s two major party candidates for U.S. Senate offer differing ideas for health care
Republican Mike Rogers rolls out plan heavy on transparency; Democrat Abdul El-Sayed advocates for Medicare for All
DPAA: WORLD CLASS ENTERTAINMENT AT OUR DOORSTEP
The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, The Dayton Opera and The Dayton Ballet. will come together this coming weekend (Sept. 26-27) to perform West Side Story.
Ed Sheeran's Tour Ticket Prices Drop, More Seats Available Amid Controversy
Shortly after Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour concert for his unapologetic support of Palestine, ticket prices for the singer's upcoming Philadelphia show have dropped by at least 50 percent.
Local First Foundation advocates for community-based healthcare plan across La Plata County
Nonprofit asks city to get involved
Sunflower Troupe seeks Four Corners playwrights for 2027 short-play festival
Selected works will be performed next summer
Oscar Health (OSCR) Bets On Lucy As CEO Calls Time On Employer Coverage
Oscar Health (NYSE:OSCR) introduced its AI-driven Lucy Healthcare Marketplace, a digital hub for carriers, brokers, and consumers. The company presented Lucy as part of a shift toward individual coverage options, including support for ICHRA-based benefit designs. Chief executive Mario Schlosser said the traditional employer-sponsored health insurance structure is ending, pointing to alternative coverage models. Oscar Health’s Lucy Healthcare Marketplace launch and public push toward...
J Balvin Publicly Celebrates Ex Valentina Ferrer Days After Split
J Balvín is publicly giving his ex Valentina Ferrer her flowers following their shocking breakup after a decade together.
Czechs beat USA to qualify for Davis Cup finals
Jiri Lehecka downed Learner Tien in a deciding rubber as the Czech Republic stunned the United States 3-2 in Davis Cup qualifying for a second straight year, while South Korea
1983 TV Movie Drew Over 100 Million Viewers, More Than Most Super Bowls
Decades later, this TV movie is still the most-watched TV movie in history.
1983 TV Movie Drew Over 100 Million Viewers, More Than Most Super Bowls
Decades later, this TV movie is still the most-watched TV movie in history.
EB-2 NIW Green Card Case Study: Approval for Business and Wellness Professional from Venezuela
Business Executive and Wellness Professional Colombo & Hurd secured an EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) green card for a business and wellness professional from Venezuela focused on mental wellness education, early awareness, and prevention. USCIS approved the EB-2 NIW petition without a Request for Evidence, and after the Adjustment of Status (AOS) process, the client received her green card and is now a permanent resident of the United States.
Rabies Cases Prompt Nationwide Health Advisory: What VA Residents Should Know
Reports of people exposed to rabid or possibly rabid animals are rising across the country. Here's where Virginia cases stand.
Trump to form ‘AI Force,’ name AI czar but rejects calls for constraints
A growing chorus of lawmakers and industry leaders have called for moving more slowly on the technology.
Frankie Muniz and Ex Paige Reunite for Son Amid 'Rock Bottom' Struggles
Frankie Muniz and his estranged wife, Paige Price, are putting on a united front for the sake of their 5-year-old son, Mauz.
Three Cuban women, three businesses, one dream: How they’re building their future in Miami
They arrived in Miami by different paths. Now they’re turning what they know and love — pole dancing, tennis and skin care — into businesses and a shot at the American dream.
Ed Sheeran's PA Concert Undergoes Major Change Amid Macklemore Controversy
Ed Sheeran's Saturday, September 19, Loop Tour concert in Philadelphia will feature a major change as the singer continues to face backlash.
Chris Simms Eviscerates ESPN, 'College GameDay' For Political Propaganda
He didn't hold back.
In Memoriam: Dorothy Zimmerman
On Aug. 16, 2026, the Florida Political Review’s advisor, Dorothy Zimmerman, passed away after a courageous fight against ovarian cancer. Dorothy joined the Bob Graham Center for Public Service in
State/Local Health Officials Warn Public Measles Visitor Traveled State
It is related to a passenger who traveled by train and bus and was hospitalized.
Congo begins Ebola vaccinations for health workers in the epicenter of the outbreak
Congo has begun vaccinating healthcare staff against Ebola in Bunia, the epicenter of the fastest-growing outbreak of the disease in history.
Trump announces all 50 states joining Medicaid drug pricing model
The Trump administration claims that Medicaid will save billions on prescription drug costs as a result of the plan, dubbed the Medicaid “GENEROUS” model. Experts say the savings are unclear since the content of the deals isn't public.
Round Up: The Switch 2 Games We Played At TGS From 2026's Shoo-In 'Publisher Of The Year'
Resident Mega Dogma Wilds
Iconic 40-year-old beer brand closing down its beloved brewery
One of the first brewpubs to open in the U.S.
Bar Harbor Parents Again Raise Concerns About How Some Science Education In Sixth Grade.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Restaurant Barn. BAR HARBOR—Parents again raised concerns this week about how Bar Harbor students receive science instruction after fifth grade, months after the same issue came before the Bar Harbor School Board. The concern centers on a past scheduling change at Conners Emerson School that gives fifth graders a full year of science rather than switching between science and social studies at midyear. Principal Dr. Heather Weir Webster told the board that the school has been monitoring test scores, teacher feedback, and the experience of students as it considers whether the current approach is working. If it is not, the approach may be changed, but that would not likely occur this school year. In fifth and sixth grade, the school used to have one semester of social studies and one of science in each year. That schedule shifted because switching at midyear often broke up the learning units. So, approximately two-three years ago, they decided to shift that a bit. Science became a dedicated focus in fifth grade. Social studies was the dedicated focus in sixth grade. The school staff members are hoping to dive deeply into the data and see if the students are having a more quality experience throughout their time in those grades when it comes to science and social studies. If not, things could shift again. This year, Dr. Webster said at the September meeting, potential changes to curricula have been a bit complicated by moving into the school’s new building in late October and early November. “There have been no changes this year because it’s hard enough to handle the move. That allows them to have consistency,” Dr. Webster said. Dr. Webster said that after the Covid pandemic which prevented students from attending school in person, many fifth graders were struggling. “We tried several different configurations,” she said, including a co-teaching model to help with that struggle, but to also see how to best schedule and support those students. “We found that a January switch” where classes switched from social studies to science was really difficult. Part of the decision making stemmed from science being more hands-on and accessible to fifth graders. Social studies was a bit more abstract content, which was why the school tried the current configuration. In a letter submitted as public comment, parent Beth Dumont wrote, “In May 2026, I wrote to express my concern that our middle school students are not receiving consistent instruction in science and social studies. I appreciate that the Board took this concern seriously and requested a presentation from Principal Webster. I am also grateful for the opportunity to meet with Principal Webster and Julie Keblinsky in July to learn more about the current curriculum and scheduling. “During that meeting, I learned that the current model is intended to integrate science and social studies into other subjects during the years or semesters when they are not offered as standalone courses. “While I appreciate the intent behind this model, I remain concerned about its premise. Science and social studies are core academic disciplines that provide students with essential knowledge, skills, and ways of thinking. Yet under the current schedule, students are not guaranteed consistent instructional time in these subjects. Instead, exposure to content in these disciplines may depend on whether opportunities for integration arise within other classes. “To be clear, I strongly support interdisciplinary learning. Integrating science and social studies across the curriculum can enrich students’ educational experiences and help them make meaningful connections across subject areas. My concern is not with integration itself, but with relying on integration as a substitute for dedicated instruction in core disciplines.” Dr. Webster said that they’ve been monitoring test scores, talking to teachers, seeing how the pilot program works. It’s in its third year now of this schedule. One science teacher, she said, told her he’d seen positive outcomes with full year science and that there was a stronger classroom community. Another science teacher had concerns over the readiness last year, but she isn’t feeling that way about this year’s current class. A third teacher for social studies said he loves the full year. A fourth teacher of social studies hasn’t said that anything has changed. For the three fathers who spoke at the school committee meeting, the fractured science curriculum caused concerns. One father said that when he spoke to others, “all were surprised and confused as to why there was no dedicated, continuous science education,” at the school. Though students are testing well in science and math, he worried that without continuity in education, learning is lost. “We shouldn’t have to choose between key learning disciplines,” he said. Matthew Bergin, another father, agreed, adding, “I’m just a little concerned.” In her letter, Dumont wrote, “As the parent of a recent sixth grader who completed an entire year without a dedicated science course, I saw very little evidence that this integration was occurring in a consistent, systematic, or readily identifiable way. This is not a criticism of our middle school teachers, who have been uniformly excellent. Rather, it is a structural criticism of the current schedule.” Dr. Webster gave an update about all aspects of the schedule and how it’s created and she also spoke to social and emotional learning (SEL) in middle school. It’s explicitly taught but also embedded. Science is embedded as well and explicitly taught at all but that one grade. The school schedule is built from lunch out, then electives like art and physical education are placed, before going into the instruction time, teacher planning time, multi-tier support systems (MTSS), and then social and emotional learning. Teachers have to have 250 minutes a week of planning time per their contracts. That’s the minimum and occurs when their students are at specials. “The schedule is really not the purview of the board,” School Board Chair Marie Yarborough reminded the other board members and the public and thanked Dr. Webster for the presentation. The parents were also thanked for coming. LINK TO LEARN MORE [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/despite-strong-rankings-some-bar) [ Despite Strong Rankings, Some Bar Harbor Parents Raise Concerns About School's Science Education ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/despite-strong-rankings-some-bar) Carrie Jones · Jun 4 [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/despite-strong-rankings-some-bar) HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other. We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going. If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship. It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light. Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now. Thank you so much for being here. Founding member information can be found here. Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you. Subscribe Share Bar Harbor Story Share Leave a comment
Russia holds parliamentary vote in areas it seized from Ukraine in the war
Russia's parliamentary election for the first time is being held in Ukraine's regions that Moscow illegally annexed after the start of its full-scale invasion more than 4 1/2 years ago.
PA Health Department prepares to withdraw request for CDC aid amid rise measles cases
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health calls on the CDC to publicly recognize four measles-associated deaths
MS NOW says journalists blocked from White House after Trump announces ban
The network said it “intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights” after Trump said he would block MS NOW, CNN and Politico.
The Big Holes in Wearable Heart Rate Variability And Readiness Scores
On September 9th, Apple announced it was revamping its Apple Watch Health Sensing System, rolling out a Readiness score (0 to 10), and increasing the frequency of heart rate variability (HRV) outputs 24-fold. This can be viewed as upping its competition with various other consumer wearable sensors. These “readiness scores” as a composite of multiple metrics, with heart rate variability (HRV) being front and center for most. The majority of Americans are now using wearable sensors, which equates to well over 100 million adults. HRV and Readiness scores are increasingly being marketed as a measurement of autonomic nervous system health, a digital marker for future disease, a clock for biological age, and a holistic metric to promote healthspan and even longevity. (Apple also introduced a new longevity tab and “Health Age”.) None of this has been proven. In this edition of Ground Truths I am going to review what we know about heart rate variability and readiness scores. Heart Rate Variability HRV is the variation in normal heart cycle timing. The variability of the heart rate, the barely perceptible millisecond changes in time between consecutive heart beats (see R-R intervals in the Figure below, left panel), is due to interplay between the sympathetic and parasympathetic (vagal nerve) inputs. Distinct from heart rate, individuals with the same heart rate can have very different HRVs. It is a rough reflection of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, inadequate to say whether a person’s ANS function is abnormal. For more than three decades, heart rate variability (HRV) has been measured and several studies have found an association of low HRV and clinical outcomes, particularly a link with higher all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. There have also been less well established links of low HRV to risk of early cognitive impairment, dementia, mental illness, Type 2 diabetes and substance abuse. An important reminder is that HRV is a surrogate marker without any established cause-and-effect relationship. If you increase your HRV, that doesn’t mean it will improve health outcomes. In fact, there is no hard evidence for that. All that work linking to health outcomes was done with electrocardiogram (ECG) derived HRV. Now, in the era of consumer wearables, this is getting assessed differently, by optical pulse (yes, the lights you see) plethysmography (PPG) or what is called pulse rate variability (PRV). They are not the same, as shown below (right panel) and only concordant when the delay between the ECG and pulse is kept constant, which basically means at rest. I should mention there’s also what I will call MPV, a mattress mechanical movement sensor, a derived heart rate variability, that companies like Eight Sleep use, even further away from directly measuring HRV. HRV has not one uniform measurement but many different types of quantification, such as RMSSD, the magnitude of difference between successive R-R intervals of normal sinus beats (N-N) or SDNN, the standard deviation of NN intervals, both in milliseconds. SDNN is one of the so-called frequency domain HRVs (others are LF, HF, LF/HF). Different wearable sensors use different metics; Apple has relied on SDNN and nearly all of the others use RMSSD, which is generally considered the more accurate metric. There’s also the different length of time measured, such as for a matter of minutes, all day, or an overnight’s sleep. Short measurements are especially problematic since they don’t capture enough of respiratory modulation and other factors that influence HRV. Share Ground Truths How well does HRV correlate with PRV? There are very limited studies, especially independently done. One that is commonly cited was conducted by Air Force researchers in only 13 healthy adults assessing Oura ring 3 and 4, Whoop 4.0, and Garmin Fenix 6 and showed a correlation coefficient of 0.88 to 0.97 and a mean absolute percentage error from 6 to 10%. The correlation is not a perfect 1.0, but there’s at least a fairly high level of correlation. HRV is supposed to increase during the night due to takeover of the parasympathetic nervous system, and higher during deep sleep. A recent example of my 1 week, all day “HRV,” and one during sleep is shown below. As you can see, the N of 1 data are inconsistent for the same days from different sensors (Oura, AppleWatch, Fitbit Air, and Eight Sleep) by patterns, absolute numbers, and comparison with prior days and weeks. The largest study in over 8 million Fitbit users (the old version, not Google Fitbit Air, introduced in May 2026) gives you a sense of the effect of age, sex, and the 2 different main HRV (here PRV) metrics, with RMSSD on the left and SDRR (=SDNN) on the right below. That study, from data collected in 2018, is a major outlier, since all the more recent ones are tiny with respect to sample size. Many of the companies have not had independent evaluation of their HRV, such as Eight Sleep, but have published a low standard error on their website. There are some other published studies on the correlation between HRV and PRV, but they are all small and only in healthy adults. A scoping review emphasized the lack of study in underrepresented individuals, including the aged, people of color (which affects the PPG signal), and individuals who are underweight or obese. Add the typical adult age 60 plus with one or more chronic diseases. For example, one study in over 900 adults found poor correlation of HRV and PRV, non-uniformly underestimated across many chronic diseases (cardiovascular, endocrine, neurological, respiratory, and others), concluding PRV is “an invalid surrogate for HRV.” A recent systematic review of 43 studies comparing HRV and PRV found reasonable pooled absolute standardized error (HRV as gold standard) but only 10 of the studies provided quantitative synthesis in ideal conditions. Their main conclusion was similarly cautious: “PPG-derived HRV [PRV] should not be regarded as universally interchangeable with ECG-derived HRV across all devices, populations, and recording contexts.” Factors Affecting HRV and PRV That gets me to the long list of factors that affect HRV (and PRV) besides the device, the type of measurement (RMSSD, SDNN or others), the person’s signal, the sensor site, the duration of data capture, if weighting by sleep stage is used, how artifact is processed and corrected. And this list is not complete!: Oura puts out data from their community of users (who input data) on what affects their overnight HRV. The factors currently provided are: no alcohol (increase 8%), melatonin (increase 2%, float tank (increase 2%), wine (decrease 4%), and party (decrease 14%) in overnight HRV. Must be some big parties! Subscribe What is a PRV measurement good for? It has been falsely characterized as an index of “autonomic balance” and a specific indicator of stress. A 2018 review of the studies available for HRV and its relationship to stress, not using any of the current wearables, found that stress can lower HRV. But so can many other factors. The non-specificity of the signal, indexed to the table above, is striking. Evidence from a UK Biobank study of over 46,000 participants with actual HRV looked at genetically predicted HRV, a genetic risk score, that failed to show the expected HRV-mortality link, indicating that _HRV is likely not causa_l, but rather a reflection of person’s physiologic state. A review of consumer wearable HRV data from 5 longitudinal studies showed that nighttime PRV was not associated with perceived stress, and surprisingly higher HRV, in the largest cohort (N=717 participants), was correlated with higher stress. An Oura ring cohort of 525 first-year college students found a link between overnight PRV and perceived stress, but that was also seen with resting heart rate, sleep, and respiratory rate. Several very small studies have examined the relationship of HRV and athletic injuries or guiding training with mixed, and predominantly negative results. HRV biofeedback training with paced breathing had no significant effect on reducing stress or raising HRV, as demonstrated with sham controlled trials. When HRV for multiple days showed a decline in conjunction with body temperature, the Oura ring published data for prediction of Covid. The WHOOP company sponsored an observational study, published in 2026, of 30,000 users for 72 weeks, without a control group, that reported reduced alcohol intake (5.8 % points) by self-report. That doesn’t tell us much, and particularly about the merits of HRV for behavioral change. If you use the same device and conditions as longitudinal trends for multiple (at least 2-3) weeks that may be the one way to get something useful from the measurements. Data for overnight sleep with minimal motion and using RMSSD is the best proxy for real HRV. The reason to look at trends rather than any given night is that it more likely represents something, even though you won’t know with certainty what the “it” is. Keep in mind there are no data, no peer-reviewed evidence, to show that HRV fluctuation in-person has any correlation with health outcomes. Share Readiness Scores These are proprietary scores that integrate different metrics for each of the wearables: no algorithms have been disclosed. They are unvalidated against health outcomes. In a review of 14 composite health scores of readiness and recovery, HRV contributed 86% to the scores, followed by reading heart rate (79%), physical activity and sleep duration (both at 71%). That review noted the substantial variability in measurement protools and lack of standardization. Sleep staging is notoriously inconsistent and inaccurate by these sensors, which adds further to the HRV uncertainties for what the scores, which use sleep stage data, mean. Only resting heart rate has been shown consistently across devices to be extremely accurate. I’ve made a Table to summarize what we know about which metrics are included, the scores, any peer-reviewed studies that compared the readiness score with health outcomes, and the corresponding (if any, NA-not available) citation. You will note that some companies do not use the term “readiness," such as WHOOP for recovery, and Garmin, which has 2 different scores, one of which is Body Battery. Eight Sleep uses the term “Fitness Score.” They all include HRV; Apple includes a new metric they call “Recovery HRV” which among other components uses 7-days of sleep, but it is unclear what this means or how it is differentiated from other scores (there are clearly no data for outcomes). We have no knowledge of how the different components are weighted or whether any of these scores are better than resting heart rate, HRV alone, physical activity, or any other single metric. Since none of these are standardized, they are not interchangeable, so if you get a 90 for Oura that has no relationship to a 90 on a Google Fitbit Air. Notably, the company can update its algorithm for readiness score at any point without notification to device users. Without any useful evidence of actionability for these scores or established relationship with health outcomes, it is hard to make a case for their value. At the Apple recent announcement they showed their Readiness score (0-10) on the watch (Figure below) but there are no published data on this score, not even on their website. It’s available only on their new Watch Series 12 or Ultra 4 [of course, ;-)]. That exemplifies the problems with these scores, lack of data and evidence for being meaningful to promote health. Perhaps the best study (which isn’t saying much) is the WHOOP Recovery for golfer performance, because it did correlate with an objective outcome, even though there was no control group and the authors were all from the company. Among the 389 pro golfers, an absolute 10-per cent point increase in Recovery score was associated with about 0.5 fewer strokes per round. But that’s hardly a health outcome! WHOOP is also conducting a study in over 2,700 runners to see if their recovery score will be linked to less injuries and improved performance, but that is not yet published and has no control group or randomization. Putting This in Context For two decades I’ve been enthusiastic about the potential for digital health and particularly wearable biosensors. Over the years, we’ve seen some great progress for their ability to promote physical activity and accurately detect atrial fibrillation (the first FDA cleared deep learning AI for consumers). That work was the subject of rigorous research. But there are holes in the data and evidence for other metrics. One notable one is the “VO2 max” story that I wrote about earlier this year. At that time many subscribers asked me to cover heart rate variability, which I finally got to here. When I dived into the research and publication for HRV and readiness scores, I expected to find at least some that were of high quality and demonstrated their utility by linkage to health outcomes. To my surprise, I found none. The wearable sensor measurements for HRV (PRV) are, for the most part, accurate, but that validation work has only been done in small studies of healthy adults and does not take into account the long list of factors, from the device, software side, and the user side, that affect HRV measurements. Moreover, this metric chiefly relies on optical sensing and, as we have learned for heart rate PPG sensing, may be less accurate in people of color. Keep in mind that all of the health outcome association evidence comes from ECG-derived HRV; none are from wearable sensor data. I will repeat the key point: there's no peer-reviewed evidence to show that in-person HRV fluctuation—or efforts to raise your HRV— has any correlation with health outcomes. For those of you who look at your HRV on awakening, or even 2+ week trends of it being low, I hope this context helps to relieve any anxiety. Yes, low HRV (not PRV) has been shown to increase risk of some diseases as summarized above. But efforts to raise your HRV—a surrogate metric— has not been established for improving any health outcomes. HRV does not have any evidence of causality (the genetic evidence actually goes against this possibility). In this summary, I have not included data for other wearable sensors such as Polar, Samsung, Withings, Suunto, Amazfit, Coros, Ultrahuman, or additional mattress sensors. These are beyond my first-hand experience, and as far as I know from my in-depth review none have any peer-reviewed published data that differ from the 6 sensors I’ve reviewed here. From the points I’ve gone over above, we’re not ready for readiness scores. Besides being proprietary, they are predominantly based on metrics that have their own issues. It’s compounding the problem, like building a house without a solid foundation that has never undergone a rigorous inspection, and then selling it. Like I mentioned for PRV, you can look at trends over weeks rather than any single day, to get a handle, but even that may not be helpful. There’s simply no evidence that these scores meaningfully relate to health outcomes. I’d emphasize they might, but that requires doing prospective or randomized studies to prove it. None exist. There’s great promise for HRV/PRV utility_. For example**,**_ Prof Maiken Nedergaard, who discovered the brain glymphatics that are essential in eliminating metabolic waste products from the brain during sleep, has posited that HRV could be a non-invasive marker for neuromodulator oscillations, brain-body regulatory circuits, and brain clearance. That would be extremely useful, but like everything else on HRV and readiness scores it requires solid research and validation. The lay media isn’t helping much to get the story straight. Earlier this year The Economist published a piece entitled “The most useful indicator of your overall health” which ordained HRV as an “accumulated stress score.” That’s akin to the false assertion about VO2max: “V02 max is the singular most powerful marker for longevity.” As I’ve summarized here, that is not established. The fact is that so many things can lower HRV, including physical exercise (especially an intense workout), reduced sleep quality, stress, the list above, no less the device, signal, and software. Whatever fluctuations observed have not been correlated with any health outcome. Sadly, “datamaxxers” are widely using HRV and readiness scores that have never been validated to mean anything. We already know that for some people using the sensors for sleep metrics, it can induce “orthosomnia,” an obsession to get high sleep quality, with associated high levels of anxiety. In an experiment done by a company to promote sleep quality for its employees, “For those employees who did use the trackers, many reported feeling perfectly rested until their tracker told them they had had a terrible night. Others were told that they had slept like a baby when they had actually been lying awake worrying about the quality of their sleep. “ The same problem can result from preoccupation with HRV or readiness scores, with anxiety that would lead to further reduction in both. It you are using a wearable like >100 million American adults, it’s OK to look at these data, but contextualized with the major caveats reviewed here. If you are one to require evidence that HRV or readiness scores are linked to health outcomes, you may not even want to look. The companies make it hard to turn them off! Let me end with the companies that make and sell wearables. Apple’s doubling down on HRV (24-fold more reporting and heart rate very 5 seconds) and introduction of a Readiness score tells us that consumers have bought into these metrics and they are joining the club. However, all of this is occurring with a backdrop of tens millions of users, claims about the data that are not backed up by adequate evidence, marketing way out in front of whatever limited data exists, and not being transparent about their readiness score algorithms. The companies can well afford to do the research that is needed to connect these metrics with health outcomes show, once and for all, that increasing HRV or using readiness scores promotes our health. If they believed and invested in the products they are selling, we’d not be in this position of not knowing. That’s essentially where we are with HRV and readiness scores. Perhaps someday this will change and we’ll have good reason to embrace them. NB: I wrote this post. No AI. I have no conflicts of interest with any of its content. Loading... Ground Truths has 215,000 subscribers from every US state and 214 countries. There are over 300,000 followers of Ground Truths so more than 90,000 folks who can easily convert to be free subscribers. Your subscription to these free essays and podcasts makes my work in putting them together worthwhile. If you’re not a subscriber, please join! If you found this interesting PLEASE share it! Share Ground Truths The proceeds from all voluntary paid subscriptions go to support our summer internship program. It enabled us to accept and support a record number of 62 summer interns that joined us in 2026! These are high school, college and medical students selected from thousands of applicants. We couldn’t do this expanded program without the funds coming in through Ground Truths. Thank you!
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The new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens to the public on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
5 must-see things at George Lucas's new Museum of Narrative Art as it opens to the public
The new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens to the public on Tuesday in Los Angeles | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM & 105.9 FM
5 must-see things at George Lucas's new Museum of Narrative Art as it opens to the public
The new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens to the public on Tuesday in Los Angeles | 830 WCCO
5 must-see things at George Lucas's new Museum of Narrative Art as it opens to the public
The new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens to the public on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
5 Must-See Things at George Lucas's New Museum of Narrative Art as It Opens to the Public
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Kirk Herbstreit Said He Doesn't 'Get Into Politics', His 2016 Tweet Tells Different Story
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