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Fitness tracker data shows running too fast can be deadly for bearded dragons

The comprehensive workflow of the experimental design aimed at identifying trade-offs in thermoregulation and their implications for survival. Journal of Animal Ecology (2025). DOI:10.1111/1365-2656.70091 New research that monitored the behavior of Australian central bearded dragons via tiny fitness trackers has revealed a surprising twist—the fastest lizards were more likely to die than the slower ones. […]

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Fitness tracker data shows running too fast can be deadly for bearded dragons
The comprehensive workflow of the experimental design aimed at identifying trade-offs in thermoregulation and their implications for survival. Journal of Animal Ecology (2025). DOI:10.1111/1365-2656.70091

New research that monitored the behavior of Australian central bearded dragons via tiny fitness trackers has revealed a surprising twist—the fastest lizards were more likely to die than the slower ones.

Published today in the Journal of Animal Ecology, the research—led by University of Melbourne Dr. Kristoffer Wild—studied the bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) in their natural environment over the course of a year while they wore small, high-tech devices on their backs.

The lizard-friendly wearable smart devices contained tiny accelerometers and temperature-sensing radio transmitters to collect data on the lizards’ body temperature and acceleration.

Like other cold-blooded reptiles, bearded dragons rely on external heat sources to regulate body temperature to grow, digest food and reproduce effectively.

“Our study confirmed that these dragons are indeed masters at optimizing behavior according to seasonal shifts in air temperature,” Dr. Wild said.

“Data showed the lizards strategically moving between sunny spots and shady retreats in a delicate balancing act called behavioral thermoregulation.”

Then, a surprising find.

According to Dr. Wild, the twist came when the research team looked at the dragons’ optimal temperature for achieving peak speed and how speed related to survival outcomes. Peculiarly, the data showed that lizards with higher speeds had a greater risk of mortality.

“What we believe is happening is that speedy lizards are engaging in riskier behaviors, such as moving around more openly and frequently, making them vulnerable to predators like birds and cats,” he said.

“We found that increased risk was especially pronounced during spring, so this would make sense with dragons moving around a lot more looking for mates.”

While it’s typically assumed “the faster the better” in animals’ survival, these findings flip this assumption on its head. Being too speedy may, in fact, put these lizards at risk to predators.

“These findings highlight an important ecological reality—what is measured in controlled lab environments doesn’t always reflect what is happening in real-world environments,” Dr. Wild said.

“This research reminds us that in the wild, survival isn’t just about physiology, but is deeply intertwined in the interplay with behavior, predation risk and environmental variability.”

More information:
Kristoffer H. Wild et al, Thermal performance curves, activity and survival in a free-ranging ectotherm, Journal of Animal Ecology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.70091. besjournals.onlinelibrary.wile … 1111/1365-2656.70091

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FloSports pins down new AI tech

AUSTIN — MLS Commissioner Don Garber offered the public a rare bit of data regarding viewership of live matches under its media deal with Apple, stating that its Season Pass streams are “averaging 120,000 unique viewers per match” in 2025. Apple and MLS have largely declined to share viewership data since the launch of Season […]

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AUSTIN — MLS Commissioner Don Garber offered the public a rare bit of data regarding viewership of live matches under its media deal with Apple, stating that its Season Pass streams are “averaging 120,000 unique viewers per match” in 2025. Apple and MLS have largely declined to share viewership data since the launch of Season Pass in early 2023, making Garber’s comment one of the few data points released to date.

The commissioner said during his midseason press conference prior to Wednesday’s All-Star Game in Austin that the figure is up 50% year over year, which he attributed in part to new efforts to increase distribution of those matches outside the Apple TV ecosystem through partnerships with Comcast’s Xfinity cable service, DirecTV and EA Sports.

Garber didn’t define what qualifies as a “unique viewer,” and the metric doesn’t appear directly comparable to average-minute audience figures produced by Nielsen for more traditional linear sports telecasts. In fact, unique viewers (the number of people who watch some portion of the match) is likely much higher than the average minute audience (the average number of viewers watching during any given minute of the broadcast).

The ambiguity left industry observers on the ground in Austin wondering what to make of the morsel of data following years of secrecy from Apple and MLS on the subject. Garber pointed out in response to a follow-up question that unlike some other sports, MLS plays the bulk of its matches simultaneously on Saturday nights, with multiple matches starting hourly throughout the evening.

“We’re not putting on one or two games on a Saturday and then the next game on a Saturday or a handful of games regionally on a Sunday. Other leagues have a game of the week, or the game of the night, or Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV. All of our games, for the most part, are on Saturday, all up against each other,” Garber said. “So, when you have 120,000 unique viewers across that, that’s a lot of people. Aggregate all that, depending on what week it is, we’ve got over a million people that are unique viewers to a match.”

A source with knowledge of the number said the average viewership figure is being buoyed by the introduction of “Sunday Night Soccer,” a featured standalone match that receives additional promotional support from Apple.

It’s unclear why Garber deemed Wednesday the right time to provide a rare look behind the curtain at Season Pass viewership, but he said the public can expect more regular updates going forward.

“I know it’s frustrating for those who are looking for more information, but we and Apple believe we need to start sharing more information so that you all can start looking at it and what does it really mean,” Garber said. “So, it’s the beginning, it’s not the end, and we’ll continue to share more and more in the next press conference I have, which won’t be until MLS Cup [in December].”



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Four Things I Already Like About the Galaxy Watch 8

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 starts shipping today, and I just got my hands on a Watch8 Classic model to start reviewing. You’ll have to wait a bit for the full report, but here’s what I’m enjoying (and questioning) so far.  I’m new to Galaxy Watches […]

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Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 starts shipping today, and I just got my hands on a Watch8 Classic model to start reviewing. You’ll have to wait a bit for the full report, but here’s what I’m enjoying (and questioning) so far. 

I’m new to Galaxy Watches in general, but I’ve reviewed Pixel and Apple watches, not to mention plenty of Garmins and other fitness watches. Here are my first impressions, including the things I like, and the things I’m most excited to test out in the coming days. 

Samsung galaxy watch 8 in use (during workout)


Credit: Beth Skwarecki

As promised, the Watch 8 Classic comes with a bezel that rotates, and this rotation is tied to scrolling behavior on whatever screen you’re looking at. On the main watch face, it takes you to the notifications or your tiles, which otherwise you would swipe sideways to see. 

The rotating bezel feels really nice to turn: it has a smooth motion with subtle, soft clicks. I showed it to my teenage son, who agreed it felt nice, but then he burst out laughing when I said “and it does the same thing as swiping like this.” 

The bezel isn’t really adding anything to your experience of the watch. I suppose that’s because the same OS is on all the Watch 8 models, but only the Classic has the rotating bezel. It still seems like a waste of effort, though. On watches with buttons and a crown, like a Coros or Suunto running watch, the scroll wheel gives you a way to easily scroll without taking your fingers off the buttons at the right. On the Galaxy, scrolling with the bezel is less convenient than just swiping over the screen. The watch even has a crown-shaped button on the side, which I kept being tempted to scroll. It’s surrounded by bumpers that keep you from getting your thumb and finger around it, which I have to speculate may be an attempt to control that temptation.

I also found the direction of scrolling felt backwards. Scrolling left (counterclockwise) is equivalent to swiping right. At least vertical scrolling makes more sense: clockwise takes you down the page.

Running dynamics actually kinda make sense

Plenty of watches these days will measure your running dynamics: how much time your foot spends on the ground, how much bounce you have in your stride, and so on. (Are they doing this accurately? I’m not so sure, but that’s a different question.) The Pixel watch and many Garmin watches do this as a matter of course.

The Galaxy Watch 8 is the first watch I’ve seen that displays this data in a clear enough way that you can tell what the heck it’s supposed to mean. Check out this result I got in my post-run summary after a trail run this morning: 

run dynamics

Orange metrics need improvement, green are good, and blue are great.
Credit: Beth Skwarecki

There was even a screen during the run that would show my stride’s symmetry in real time. (It was good, apparently.) I do wish they’d call it “symmetry” rather than “asymmetry,” though. I’m curious to see how different these metrics will be when I take it out for a fast road run on flat ground. 

Heart rate zones are transparent and adapt to you

Most devices display your heart rate zones without really telling you how they’re calculated. And, worse, most devices calculate your zones from an age-based formula that is wrong for many people

On the Watch 8, when I saw my zones for the first time, there was a little note at the top that they were based on my max heart rate, and the note also gave the number it assumed my max heart rate to be. 

After my run this morning, I got a notification that my max heart rate estimate had increased, based on the fact that the watch had recorded a higher heart rate during my run. Now, I know this isn’t my true max, since I didn’t do an all-out run, but it was nice to see the watch being proactive about keeping its zones up to date and letting me know. 

The watch faces are pretty cool

Watch faces and watch face gallery on samsung galaxy watch

The watch face at right is the running-specific one it suggested. I like it!
Credit: Beth Skwarecki

I’m a sucker for good aesthetics, so of course one of the first few things I did was to check out the watch face gallery. There were plenty of good ones, including several celestial-themed analog faces. I prefer digital, though, so I chose something with a clearly readable time and plenty of room for data complications. 


What do you think so far?

The best part, though, is that after my run I got a notification asking if I’d like to try a run-focused watch face. I tapped “Change” and instantly had a watch face that was similar to the one I had picked, but that featured my VO2max estimate, the length of my most recent run, and a button that I could tap to start a run. 

Of course I tried the antioxidant index

antioxidant index


Credit: Beth Skwarecki

I think this is clever, but I truly don’t know how accurate it is. To find out how healthy your diet is (in terms of vegetables and their antioxidants) you take off the watch, turn it away from you, and hold your thumb over the heart rate sensor. You can monitor the progress of the test, which only takes a few seconds, from your phone.

The watch is basically looking for an orange tone to your skin. The more orange, the more beta-carotene you’ve probably eaten lately. The more beta-carotene (which is an antioxidant), the more vegetables in general you’ve probably eaten. It’s a bit of a leap of logic. Victoria Song, over at the Verge, fooled this sensor with a Cheez-It.

The watch told me my antioxidant index is “very low.” So my watch thinks I should eat more carrots.

What I’m excited for as I work on my review

I can’t wait to try the running coach. I’ll need to do a 12-minute run (basically, a Cooper test) for the app to understand my fitness level and start prescribing workouts. 

I’m also looking forward to trying out the treadmill feature. It’s always frustrated me how running watches, like Garmins, can’t pull data from treadmills to know how fast you’re going. The Apple Watch has GymKit, which can, but it only works with the native Workout app. I know the treadmills at my gym can sync with Samsung Galaxy watches, so I’m looking forward to seeing whether Samsung can beat Apple on making this data more accessible to more apps.

I’m also curious about (and a bit skeptical of) some of the other metrics, like the vascular load index that Samsung announced. A strange thing about the wearables market is that companies can announce new health metrics that reviewers have no way of easily validating. I can tell you whether a watch measures heart rate as well as a chest strap, and with some effort I can tell you whether it estimates my VO2max as well as a lab test. But what is my antioxidant index really? That’s something you and I may have to give up on really knowing.





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BodyBase Launches at JW Marriott Marquis Dubai

Premium reformer fitness brand expands globally with flagship UAE location High-end reformer fitness brand BodyBase has officially launched its first international franchise studio inside the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai. This opening marks a significant step in the company’s global expansion and introduces its signature reformer experience to the Middle East. Founded in Rotterdam in […]

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Premium reformer fitness brand expands globally with flagship UAE location

High-end reformer fitness brand BodyBase has officially launched its first international franchise studio inside the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai. This opening marks a significant step in the company’s global expansion and introduces its signature reformer experience to the Middle East.

Founded in Rotterdam in 2019, BodyBase has earned a reputation for immersive, music-driven classes and its proprietary BaseLine Machine, developed in-house to support functional movement. The Dubai location debuts the brand’s dual-concept model: Black Label, which focuses on high-intensity strength training, and White Label, which blends yoga and Pilates for a slower-paced, breath-centered flow.

“This launch is more than a studio. It’s a vision for the future of luxury wellness,” said Sabrina Albert, founder of BodyBase. “We’re bringing together world-class hospitality and high-performance fitness to offer something new for global travelers and local communities.”

BodyBase Pilates studio
credit: BodyBase

Integrated into the wellness offerings of the JW Marriott Marquis—home to Saray Spa and the Health Club—the studio delivers an elevated fitness experience rooted in intention, design, and innovation. The new space also underscores BodyBase’s potential for rapid expansion across premium hospitality and real estate settings.

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Personal trainer working out with client





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President Donald Trump Moves To Ban ‘Woke AI’ In The Federal Government

President Donald Trump has signed another executive order pertaining to AI. However, this time, it’s requiring AI companies that work with the federal government to remove “ideological agendas” from their models. “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence,” which was ordered on Jan. 25, 2025, mandates that agencies only use large language models (LLMs) […]

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President Donald Trump has signed another executive order pertaining to AI. However, this time, it’s requiring AI companies that work with the federal government to remove “ideological agendas” from their models.

“Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence,” which was ordered on Jan. 25, 2025, mandates that agencies only use large language models (LLMs) aligned with “Unbiased AI Principles” focused on truth-seeking and ideological neutrality, per a White House Fact Sheet released on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. On the same day, Trump unveiled his “AI Action Plan.”

“This order revokes certain existing AI policies and directives that act as barriers to American AI innovation, clearing a path for the United States to act decisively to retain global leadership in artificial intelligence,” the order states.

Under the order, AI tools must prioritize “historical accuracy, scientific inquiry, and objectivity” — while avoiding outputs influenced by frameworks like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), the Fact Sheet reads. 

Developers must also avoid embedding partisan or ideological views unless specifically prompted by users.

“From now on, the U.S. government will deal only with AI that pursues truth, fairness, and strict impartiality,” Trump said at an AI summit in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, according to NPR.

The outlet also pointed out that the executive order starkly contrasts with the Biden administration’s approach, which focused on preventing AI from reinforcing bias or violating civil rights — protections that Trump supporters argue amount to censorship of conservative views.

Neil Sahota, a technologist and advisor to the United Nations on AI, said the industry is deeply concerned about the situation.

“They’re already in a global arms race with AI, and now they’re being asked to put some very nebulous measures in place to undo protections because they might be seen as woke,” Sahota said, per NPR. “It’s freaking tech companies out.”

While some studies suggest chatbots occasionally give left-leaning answers, experts say it often depends on question phrasing or the sources being summarized, NPR reported. There’s no evidence that major models are deliberately biased against conservatives.

“Most of the examples I’ve seen conservatives cite of AI being too ‘woke’ are LLMs refusing to confirm conspiracy theories or racist claims,” said Talia Ringer, a computer science professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, per NPR.

The White House also plans to revise federal AI safety guidelines put in place by the Biden administration, stripping references to DEI, climate change, and misinformation, the outlet reports.

“President Trump is protecting Americans from biased AI outputs driven by ideologies like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at the cost of accuracy,” per the Fact Sheet.

Since beginning his second term in January 2025, AFROTECH™ has kept up with the signing of multiple executive orders from Trump, rolling back “harmful” Biden-era policies — particularly those related to AI and efforts to dismantle DEI initiatives in the federal government and schools.

Only time will tell how these moves impact society.





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Hoka, Dyson, Samsung and More

This story is part of NBC Select’s New & Notable column, where we highlight our favorite product launches. We will continuously update this article throughout the month with new releases we think you should know about. Footwear and apparel launches According to our testing, the Hoka Arahi is one of the best walking shoes, and […]

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This story is part of NBC Select’s New & Notable column, where we highlight our favorite product launches. We will continuously update this article throughout the month with new releases we think you should know about.

Footwear and apparel launches

According to our testing, the Hoka Arahi is one of the best walking shoes, and the brand’s new model keeps feet centered and cushions them better than the previous model. It’s made with softer foam, has an improved stabilizing system to prevent overpronation and is designed with a mesh upper that has reflective details. The Arahi 8 earned the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Acceptance, and it’s available in regular, wide and extra-wide sizes for men and women.

On iterated on the Cloudeclipse, one of NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin’s favorite running shoes, to design the new Cloudsurfer Max. Made for long-distance runs, the shoe has two layers of On’s CloudTech Phase cushioning system and Helion foam, making for soft landings and smooth transitions. The sneaker comes in men’s and women’s sizes.

Malin has been running in the Cloudsurfer Max sneakers for about two weeks and logs six to 12 miles in them per wear (the brand sent her a courtesy sample). “The cushioning on these takes so much pressure off my knees, preventing them from feeling achy, especially once I get to mile 10 or so,” she says. “They have a lot of foam and a higher stack height, but they don’t look intimidating at all, which makes me gravitate toward them when I want to wear a max cushioned shoe.”

Brooks’ Hyperion series shoes are speedy and lightweight, and the Hyperion Max model adds a thick layer of foam cushioning to that formula (at the cost of being a little heavier). The latest Max 3 has significantly more cushion than the Max 2s, leading to a much taller 46 millimeter stack height (up from 36). Like previous models, it has a nylon plate built-in to help propel you forward with each step. The shoes are available in men’s and women’s sizes.

The Hyperion Elite 5 is the most race-focused of Brooks’ Hyperion lineup — it’s the lightest by far, and has a stiff carbon plate for maximum energy return in each step. The Elite 5 is lighter than the previous version, with a minimal upper and new cutouts in the midsole.

Saucony released a new version of the Hurricanes, but they’re still the brand’s most cushioned shoes for daily runs. The 25s have a thick layer of two types of foam, giving them a soft, bouncy and responsive feel, and a different shape compared to the 24s to better compliment the shoes’ wide, broad, stabilizing platform and high sidewalls. The sneakers, available in men’s and women’s sizes, are also made with a soft sockliner and flexible, durable rubber outsole.

Allbirds redesigned its Tree Runner sneaker to make them more comfortable so you can wear them for hours while traveling, commuting or running errands. The shoes now have dual-density cushioned memory foam insoles and a more contoured shape underfoot to support your stride, plus midsoles made from the brand’s SweetFoam material, which is derived from sugarcane. The wool-blend that lines the sneakers’ collar and tongue give them a snug, plush feel, too. You can clean these sneakers, available in men’s and women’s sizes, in the washing machine.

This full-coverage T-shirt bra is seamless and won’t show under most clothes, according to the brand. The bra is made with airy, breathable microfiber fabric, and it has underwire cups with a keyhole detail in the center. The wide cushioned straps are adjustable and convertible, so you can wear them straight or criss-cross. The bra comes in band sizes 30 to 42 and cup sizes B to G.

Tech launches

Samsung unveiled new mobile hardware this month including the next iteration of its flagship smartwatches.

Samsung’s Fold series phones fold in half like a book, and this latest version has larger screens while being significantly thinner and lighter than the Z Fold 6. When folded, the phone is 8.9 millimeters thick, that’s only a bit more than a regular phone (the iPhone 15 Pro, for example, is 8.25 millimeters thick). The Z Fold 7 also has a new 200MP main camera, up from 50MP in the Z Fold 6.

Samsung’s Flip series phones, on the other hand, fold in half vertically, like a clamshell or steno book. This updated version improved the exterior screen — it’s bigger and faster than before, making the phone easier to use when folded closed.

The Nintendo Switch 2 launched last month, and with it were not many new games for the system. Donkey Kong Bananza is a brand new game for the Switch 2, and, like Mario Kart World, may be reason enough to buy a Switch 2 (if you’ve been waiting). In it, you play as Donkey Kong and explore a large underground world, largely by smashing your way through with your fists. The brand sent Rabinowitz a copy at launch, and he’s been hooked. “I’ve only played it for about four hours, but it’s been imaginative, charming and delightful for each and every minute,” he says.

Meta’s newest smart glasses and collaboration is the Oakley Meta HSTN. Like the Meta Ray Ban before them, these look mostly like normal Oakley sunglasses on the outside, but have cameras and microphones built-in that let you listen to music, take calls, take pictures, capture video and talk to a voice assistant. The Oakley Meta HSTN also has higher quality cameras and longer battery life compared to the Meta Ray-Ban, according to the brand.

This is a minimal wireless charger from one of our favorite travel tech brands. It’s a wireless charging puck that sticks straight into any wall outlet. It supports MagSage charging and the latest Qi2 technology, so you can be sure it will charge all your wireless devices as fast as possible. The magnets will keep things like your iPhone upright so you can see and use them as they charge.

Amazfit is known for making affordable wearables, and the Balance series is one of their premium all-in-one smartwatches. This model has a compact 1.5-inch scratch-resistant sapphire glass screen (an Apple Watch Series 10 screen is either 1.6 or 1.8-inches by comparison). It also has dual-band GPS and downloadable maps, so you can navigate even without a signal (a rare feature at this price). The Balance 2 gets up to 21 days of battery life, according to the brand.

This is Amazfit’s first screenless wearable — it’s a soft wristband that looks very similar to something like a Whoop band. It tracks health, sleep and fitness basics, and displays all your data and analysis in the Zepp app. The Helio Strap gets up to 10 days of battery life, and, unlike some competitors, doesn’t require a subscription fee.

Nothing is known for making eye-catching products, see the Nothing Phone (3a) or Nothing Ear(a) to get the point. The Nothing Phone 3 is the brand’s first “flagship” phone, priced at $799, exactly the same as the iPhone 16 and Samsung Galaxy S25. It separates itself from those phones with a distinct design on the back, with asymmetrical glass, patterns, and camera placement. Also on the rear is a tiny LED display that can show you if you have unread notifications and display things like the time, timers, a compass and more.

This is the first pair of over-ear headphones from the brand, and, true to form, they have a tech-y, transparent look to them. They have noise canceling and transparency modes, on-ear controls and high-quality playback when using wired USB-C cable. The headphones get up to 35 hours of battery life with noise cancelling and up to 80 hours without it.

Marshall makes some of our favorite portable Bluetooth speakers — they’re typically stylish and sound excellent. The Middleton II sits between the three pound Stockwell II and 6.2 pound Kilburn III in terms of weight, size and price — it’s easy enough to carry in a bag or in your hand, but gets louder and lasts longer than smaller models. It’s IP67 dust and waterproof and gets over 30 hours of battery life, so you can bring it on any beach trip or vacation without worry.

Beauty and wellness launches

You can use this paste as a spot treatment, cleanser or clarifying mask to reduce active acne and prevent future breakouts. It’s made with 2% salicylic acid to target pimples, charcoal to absorb excess oil and cica cenella to prevent dryness and restore the skin barrier, according to the brand. It’s safe for all skin types, according to Kiehl’s, and you can use it daily.

Biodance’s latest hydrogel mask essentially lets you do a salmon sperm facial at home. It’s soaked with a serum made with PDRN, an ingredient derived from salmon DNA, and salmon egg extract to support skin recovery and renewal, according to the brand. The serum absorbs into your skin in about three to four hours, causing the mask to become transparent. You can also wear it overnight.

Saie’s baked setting powder disappears once you brush it on top of makeup, preserving your look for about eight hours and leaving behind smooth, bright, blurred skin, according to the brand. The powder comes in five creamy, translucent shades, absorbs excess oil and is made from clean, hydrating, noncomedogenic ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane, plus clay minerals like hertorite, mica, silica.

Peach and Lily added two new acne-safe skin care products to its lineup this month: the Snail Rescue Ultimate Eye Gel and the Super Fade Discoloration Moisturizer. The eye gel is made with 70% snail mucin, 2% niacinamide, birch juice and cica to hydrate, brighten and smooth fine lines, according to the brand. You can use it daily, and it has a cooling effect, so it depuffs, too. The moisturizer helps hydrate skin, even out your complexion and fade dark spots. It’s formulated with ingredients like 5% stabilized AHA, 4% niacinamide, glycerin, panthenol and squalane, which Peach Slices says leaves skin smoother and brighter.

Calm irritated skin posthair removal and help treat razor burn and ingrown hairs with this jelly, which is made with 0.02% hypochlorous acid, an antibacterial ingredient. It earned the National Eczema Association seal, so it’s safe for sensitive skin, and has a cooling gel feel. You can use the Repair Jelly directly after hair removal, daily on irritated patches or as needed during flare ups.

This primer is a skin care-makeup hybrid — it blurs pores and hydrates skin to make a smooth surface for makeup, and addresses hyperpigmentation through ingredients like niacinamide, tranexamic acid and amla extract. It’s made for those with melanin-rich skin, but anyone can use it. It has a gel-cream texture that leaves behind a dewy finish, according to Kulfi.

Although anyone can use it, Laura Geller made this gentle makeup removing cleanser for those with mature skin. It melts away makeup, including waterproof products, and removes dirt and grime without stripping the skin and leaving it dry or tight. The cleanser has moisturizing ingredients in its formula like shea butter, olive oil and plant-based peptides, making skin feel soft and supple after use.

Hair care launches

The Airwrap Co-anda2x is Dyson’s most powerful multistyler and hair dyer yet, according to the brand. It has a newly developed motor that Dyson says offers double the amount of air pressure and 30% more power compared to the original Airwrap, helping dry your hair faster, improve curl pattern and create sleeker styles. The tool has smart heat sensors to prevent hair damage, and it’s also smaller and lighter than the original Airwrap.

It comes with six attachments, including a finishing attachment and an upgraded round brush. When you add an attachment, the Airwrap automatically recognizes it, adjusting its heat and airflow settings accordingly. The Airwrap also connects to the MyDyson app to identify your hair type and create a personalized curl pattern based on your styling preferences.

IGK added two products to its Good Behavior line this month, a serum and a hairspray, both of which block out humidity, make hair look smooth and sleek, and mitigate frizz, according to the brand. The Supreme Seal Serum, which you apply to dry, styled hair, tames flyaways and also provides UV protection. The Flexible Anti-Frizz Hairspray doubles as a heat protectant up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, has a medium hold and doesn’t make strands feel crunchy after use.

NBC Select commerce editor Lindsay Schneider has been testing the Supreme Seal Serum (the brand sent her a courtesy sample). “I like to run this through my dry, frizzy ends for instant taming,” she says. “I apply it like I would a hair oil and notice similar results. It’s been a real life saver during the humid temps in New York.”

Moroccanoil’s Texture & Volume Powder gives hair body and helps lift its roots. It’s buildable, so the more you apply, the more volume and texture it adds to hair. The powder is made with argan oil and a mineral compound to nourish strands and prevent them from lying flat, creating a fuller look, according to the brand. It has a semi-matte finish and Moroccanoil’s signature scent, making it deodorizing. The powder is made for those with fine to medium hair, although anyone can use it.

This hair mask helps reverse the signs of dry, brittle and damaged hair. It’s made with hydrolyzed moringa protein, which bonds with keratin sites to strengthen their structure and restore elasticity, as well as vitamin C and tamanu oil to minimize breakage, seal split ends and make hair soft and shiny, according to the brand. Innersense recommends using the mask in place of conditioner every two to four washes, or when you see signs of damage.

Home and kitchen launches

This is Tineco’s most advanced floor washer yet, according to the brand. The self-cleaning system automatically adjusts its suction power and water flow as it detects messes. It also has a stream function to dissolve stains and is made with an anti-tangle brush head that won’t get clogged with hair and pet fur. The floor cleaner’s LED headlight illuminates dirt so you know exactly what to clean, and its 3D light changes color based on its cleaning status. The floor appliance also lays flat, letting you reach under furniture, alongside baseboards and into corners.

Windmill makes one of our favorite air conditioners, and the brand just launched its smallest, most compact version yet. The AC Lite Series is a 5,000 BTU model that can cool spaces up to 150 square feet, like bedrooms and offices. Similar to the brand’s other cooling appliances, this AC connects to the Windmill app, letting you control it from anywhere, and it responds to voice commands. You get a remote and installation kit with your purchase.

The Laundress specifically formulated this laundry detergent and fabric spray to clean sweaty fabric and get odors out of workout clothes. The Activewear Detergent is best for fabrics like nylon, spandex, cotton and synthetics, according to the brand. It has an enzyme blend that targets odor, sweat stains and buildup while maintaining fabric’s integrity so it doesn’t fade or stretch out. The Activewear Fabric Spray, on the other hand, is made to freshen up activewear, gym bags and shoes between wears. Both products come in the brand’s new Marine scent, which has notes of bergamot, mandarin, amber and ocean plants.

Brezza, the new sister brand to babyBrezza, launched its first product: The Supermix. It’s a countertop appliance that dispenses water and nutritional powders like protein powder, measuring everything precisely so you don’t have to. The Supermix holds up to one pound of powder and up to three liters of water — you can make up to 12 shakes before needing to refill anything, according to the brand. Using the buttons on the appliance’s screen, you can adjust its settings to specify how much powder and water you want to dispense at a time. The Supermix comes with an electric, rechargeable mixing cup, but you can put any cup up to 24 ounces under the spout.

Why trust NBC Select?

To round up the best new launches each month, reporters Zoe Malin and Harry Rabinowitz choose products they think NBC Select readers should know about. They include products from brands NBC Select has previously covered, or brands staffers recommend. Malin and Rabinowitz also regularly try new product launches to share their first-hand experiences.

Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.





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Meta is shelling out big bucks to get ahead in AI. Here’s who it’s hiring – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

New York (CNN) — Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is on a mission for his company to be the first to reach so-called artificial superintelligence — generally considered to mean AI that’s better than all humans at all knowledge work. It’s a nebulous and likely far-out concept that some analysts say may not immediately benefit the […]

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New York (CNN) — Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is on a mission for his company to be the first to reach so-called artificial superintelligence — generally considered to mean AI that’s better than all humans at all knowledge work.

It’s a nebulous and likely far-out concept that some analysts say may not immediately benefit the company’s core business. Yet Zuckerberg is shelling out huge sums to build an all-star team of researchers and engineers to beat OpenAI and other rivals to it.

Zuckerberg’s recruiting spree, which has reportedly included multimillion-dollar pay packages to lure top talent away from key rivals, has kicked off a talent race within the AI industry. Last month, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman claimed Meta was offering his employees $100 million signing bonuses to switch companies. And just this week, Google CEO Sundar Pichai was asked during an earnings call about his company’s status in the AI talent war, a sign that Wall Street is now also invested in the competition.

The stakes are high for Zuckerberg — after Meta’s pivot to the metaverse fell flat, he’s reoriented the company around AI in hopes of being a leader in the next transformational technology wave. The company has invested billions in data centers and chips to power its AI ambitions that it’s now under pressure to deliver on. Unlike other tech giants, Meta doesn’t have a cloud computing business to generate immediate revenue from those infrastructure investments. And the company is coming from somewhat behind competitors, after reported delays in releasing the largest version of its new Llama 4 AI model.

“That’s the Llama 4 lesson: You can have hundreds of thousands of (GPU chips), but if you don’t have the right team developing the model, it doesn’t matter,” said D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria.

But more than anything, Zuckerberg appears to be in a circle of Silicon Valley “AI maximalists” that believe the technology will change everything about how we live and work. Becoming a leader in the space is essential to Meta and other companies whose leaders follow that line of thinking, Luria said.

“For our superintelligence effort, I’m focused on building the most elite and talent-dense team in the industry,” Zuckerberg said in a Threads post earlier this month.

Meta last month invested $14.3 billion in data labeling startup Scale AI. Scale founder and then-CEO Alexandr Wang joined the social media giant as part of the deal, along with several of Scale’s other top employees. Wang is now leading the new Meta Superintelligence Lab, along with former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman.

“My job is to make amazing AI products that billions of people love to use,” Friedman said in an X post earlier this month. “It won’t happen overnight, but a few days in, I’m feeling confident that great things are ahead.”

And in recent weeks, Meta has attracted top researchers and engineers from the likes of OpenAI, Apple, Google and Anthropic. Multiple news outlets, including Bloomberg, Wired and The Verge, have reported that Meta has, in some cases, offered pay packages worth hundreds of millions of dollars to new AI hires. It’s a sign of just how far Zuckerberg is willing to go in his quest to win the AI superintelligence race, although the Meta chief has pushed back on some of the reporting around the compensation figures.

It is with that mission that Meta’s new team will be working to build superintelligence. Here are some of the most prominent recent hires to the team. This list was compiled based on public statements, social media profiles and posts, and news reports, and may not be exhaustive. Meta declined to comment on this story.

Zuckerberg’s drive to get ahead on AI may be rooted in part in his desire to own a foundational platform for the next major technology wave.

Meta lost the race to control the operating systems for the mobile web era in the early 2000s and 2010s, which Apple and Google won. In recent years, he has not been shy about expressing his frustration with having to pay fees to app store operators and comply with their policies.

Meta recently partnered with Amazon Web Services on a program to support startups that want to build on its Llama AI model, in an effort to make its technology essential to businesses emerging during the AI boom.

Although AI has benefitted Meta’s core advertising business, some analysts question how Zuckerberg’s quest for “superintelligence” will benefit the company.

Emarketer senior analyst Minda Smiley said she expects Meta executives to face tough questions during the company’s earnings call next week about how its superintelligence ambitions “align with the company’s broader business roadmap.”

“Its attempts to directly compete with the likes of OpenAI … are proving to be more challenging for the company while costing it billions of dollars,” Smiley said.

But as its core business continues to grow rapidly, Meta has the money to spend to build its team and “steal” from rivals, said CFRA Research analyst Angelo Zino. And, at least for now, investors seem to be here for it — the company’s shares have risen around 20% since the start of this year.

And if Zuckerberg succeeds with his vision, it could propel Meta far beyond a social media company.

“I think Mark’s in a manifest destiny point of his career,” said Zack Kass, an AI consultant and former OpenAI go-to-market lead. “He always wants to point to Facebook groups as being this way that he is connecting the world … And if he can build superintelligence that cures cancer, he doesn’t have to talk about Facebook groups anymore as being his like lasting legacy.”

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

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