As Super Bowl Sunday comes to a close, America’s National Football League “is challenging innovators to improve the facemask on football helmets to reduce concussions in the game,” reports the Associated Press:
The league announced on Friday at an innovation summit for the Super Bowl the next round in the HealthTECH Challenge series, a crowdsourced competition designed to accelerate the development of cutting-edge football helmets and new standards for player safety. The challenge invites inventors, engineers, startups, academic teams and established companies to improve the impact protection and design of football helmets through improvements to how facemasks absorb and reduce the effects of contact on the field…
Most progress on helmet safety has come from improvements to the shell and padding, helping to reduce the overall rate of concussions. Working with the helmet industry, the league has brought in position-specific helmets, with those for quarterbacks, for example, having more padding in the back after data showed most concussions for QBs came when the back of the head slammed to the turf. But the facemask has mostly remained the same. This past season, 44% of in-game concussions resulted from impact to the player’s facemask, up from 29% in 2015, according to data gathered by the NFL. “What we haven’t seen over that period of time are any changes of any note to the facemask,” [said Jeff Miller, the NFL’s executive vice president overseeing player health and safety]… “Now we see, given the changes in our concussion numbers and injuries to players, that as changes are made to the helmet, fewer and fewer concussions are caused by hits to the shell, and more and more concussions as a percentage are by hits to the facemask…”
Selected winners will receive up to $100,000 in aggregate funding, as well as expert development support to help move their concepts from the lab to the playing field. Winners will be announced in August, according to the article, “and Miller said he expected helmet manufacturers to start implementing any improvements into helmets soon after that.”
While the average person would use a standard charger to top off their phone, [Tom Stanton] is no average man. Instead, he put mind to matter with an entire pendulum battery system.
Using the inductive effects of magnets on copper coils, [Tom] found the ability to power small components. With that in mind, the only path was forward with a much larger pendulum. A simple diode rectifier and capacitors allow for a smoother voltage output. The scale of the device is still too small to power anything insane, even the phone charging test is difficult. One thing the device can do is juice up the electromagnetic launcher he put together a couple years back to hurl an RC plane into the air.
The useful applications of pendulum power storage might not be found in nationwide infrastructure, but the application on this scale is certainly a fun demonstration. [Tom] has a particular fascination with similar projects where practical application comes second to novelty. For a perfect example of this, check out his work with air powered planes!
“Elon Musk said on Sunday that SpaceX has shifted its focus to building a ‘self-growing city’ on the moon,” reports Reuters, “which could be achieved in less than 10 years.”
SpaceX still intends to start on Musk’s long-held ambition of a city on Mars within five to seven years, he wrote on his X social media platform, “but the overriding priority is securing the future of civilization and the Moon is faster.”
Musk’s comments echo a Wall Street Journal report on Friday, stating that SpaceX has told investors it would prioritize going to the moon and attempt a trip to Mars at a later time, targeting March 2027 for an uncrewed lunar landing. As recently as last year, Musk said that he aimed to send an uncrewed mission to Mars by the end of 2026.
Super Bowl 2026 is moments away as the New England Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks.
Live from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, history is on the line. The Seahawks are chasing a second NFL title, while the Patriots are aiming for a record-breaking seventh.
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It’s expected to be a defense-first battle — but could one of Sam Darnold (Seahawks) or Drake Maye (Patriots) steal the spotlight with some special plays.
Viewers in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. can also watch for free using the streams listed above.
How to watch the Super Bowl 2026 for free
Here is how to watch the full Super Bowl 2026 stream for free
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Smartwatches in 2026 are basically mini smartphones, and in some ways, they are even more ubiquitous, given the placement on your wrist.
The funny thing is, most people still use them like a fancy pedometer: steps, a few notifications, maybe a run every so often, and then a vague sense of guilt when the rings aren’t behaving. However, the genuinely useful fitness features aren’t the most obvious ones. They’re the quieter tools hiding in health dashboards, post-workout screens, and settings menus you probably only opened once, when you first strapped the watch on, and never again.
Set up the right handful, though, and your smartwatch stops being a passive tracker and starts nudging you towards better training decisions. To help you make the most of your smartwatch and keep up with those 2026 fitness goals, I’ve found eight features worth digging into.
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(Image credit: Future / RunBuddy)
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Feature 1: Training Load
Training Load (sometimes called workload) is a simple concept: your watch looks at recent workouts and visualises how hard you’ve been going, so you can see trends you’d otherwise miss.
On Apple Watch, you can view it in the Activity app’s Workload view, and scroll through the past seven days to get a quick sense of whether you’ve been steadily building, staying level, or quietly overdoing it.
The practical win is that it discourages accidental hero weeks.
You don’t need to stare at charts or micromanage your sessions, either. Just do a quick daily glance, plus a check-in after anything particularly demanding.
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(Image credit: Future / Matetus Abras)
Feature 2: Rate your workouts
Here’s the problem with relying purely on pace and heart rate: two workouts can look identical on paper and feel completely different.
Heat, hills, poor sleep, stress, and even what you eat can shift how demanding a session feels, even if the numbers don’t scream it.
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That’s why effort rating, sometimes shown as perceived exertion, is such a useful little add-on. Apple explicitly ties this into Training Load, allowing you to log how hard a workout felt so the load picture better reflects reality over time, while Garmin also has a smiley-face rating system. You don’t need to be ultra-precise, either; the trick is consistency.
If you keep the meaning of your ratings steady, even in broad strokes like easy, moderate and hard, your training history becomes far more honest.
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Feature 3: Set heart-rate or pace targets
Most people use their smartwatch like a receipt: you do the workout, then you look at the stats afterwards. Targets flip that around.
There are two target styles that matter for everyday training. Heart rate targets are brilliant for easy runs that accidentally get harder, and pace targets are great for steady sessions where you want to stay inside a comfortable range.
The trick is finding the target in the first place, because it’s often tucked inside workout settings, custom runs, or coaching options, not the default “start run” screen. Luckily, it only takes a few minutes to find and configure.
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(Image credit: Fitbit)
Feature 4: Use your Readiness Score
A readiness score is basically a daily tie-breaker. Instead of guessing whether you’re up for a tough session, your watch uses recovery signals to nudge you towards the right type of workout.
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In Fitbit’s ecosystem, the Daily Readiness Score is designed to reflect how prepared your body is for activity, using factors like sleep, recent activity, and heart metrics such as resting heart rate and heart rate variability.
The best way to use it is as a decision tool, not a strict rule. A low score does not have to mean “do nothing”, but it is often a good prompt to swap intervals for an easy run, a walk, or mobility work.
(Image credit: Future / StepsApp GmbH)
Feature 5: Check your Vitals
Some mornings you wake up and feel off – not ill, just sluggish or strangely flat. This is where Vitals-style dashboards are genuinely useful, because they turn a vague feeling into something you can act on.
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On Apple Watch, the Vitals app builds a typical range for overnight health metrics it collects while you sleep, then flags readings as outliers when they’re meaningfully above or below your norm. Garmin watches offer a Health Status digest with five key metrics, such as pulse ox and heart rate variability, as well as a Morning Report on how you slept.
If multiple metrics fall outside your typical range, you can also get a notification the next morning, alongside context for factors that can influence the results, such as medications, elevation changes, or alcohol.
It’s important to note that you do not need to obsess over the numbers. The simplest, most useful habit is to treat it as a traffic-light check on mornings you feel questionable; if everything looks typical, you can train as planned.
(Image credit: Future / Genlter Stories)
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Feature 6: Wrist temperature trends
Wrist temperature is easy to misunderstand, so it helps to set expectations upfront: it’s not a “take your temperature on demand” feature, and it is not about obsessing over one reading.
The value is in night-to-night trends, which can add a useful layer of context when you’re trying to work out if you’re under-recovered, travelling poorly, or simply heading into a rough week.
On Apple Watch, wrist temperature is measured overnight and shown as a baseline with changes from baseline, rather than a single absolute number, and it can take several nights of wear to establish that personal reference point.
(Image credit: Apple)
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Feature 7: Irregular rhythm notifications
This one sits slightly to the side of pure fitness, but it’s exactly the sort of feature people forget they have.
Irregular rhythm notifications can run in the background and look for signs of an irregular heart rhythm, while ECG is usually an on-demand test where you open an app and follow the prompts.
On Apple Watch, Apple describes irregular rhythm notifications as a feature that can occasionally check your heart rhythm and send a notification if it detects an irregular rhythm that appears consistent with atrial fibrillation. Fitbit, Google Pixel, Samsung and Garmin behave the same way.
We need to stress that this is not medical equipment, and you should contact your doctor for anything serious.
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If your watch supports these features, it’s worth enabling the notifications and making sure you know where the ECG app lives.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Feature 8: Use an adaptive running coach
A lot of people would run more consistently if they didn’t have to decide what to do every single time, which is why built-in coaching features can be such a win.
On Samsung’s recent Galaxy Watch line, the company’s personalised Running Coach is designed to assess your running level and build a tailored plan, with the coaching experience running through Samsung Health.
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Fitbit’s ecosystem also leans heavily into guided training and readiness-style prompts, which is why it tends to be a natural fit for Wear OS watches that prioritize health coaching alongside workout tracking.
Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is a tough one. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.
Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.
Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Party time!
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Green group hint: Vroom-vroom.
Blue group hint: T.C. Bear is one.
Purple group hint: Hoops at home.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Steam is adding a little more transparency when it comes to Early Access games. Announced in a blog post, Steam introduced a new feature for game developers to add the exact date of when their game would leave Early Access and see a version 1.0 launch. According to Steam, this feature stems from developers who requested a way to display an official launch date.
While games still in Early Access give eager players a way to experience the early stages of a title and contribute towards the development, some games have been stalled in this phase for years. With this new feature, players can see a precise launch date displayed on the game’s store page just underneath the Early Access Game note. However, game devs can choose a specific date or a more vague timeframe, including displaying only the year of the expected release.
Steam
In the blog post, Steam noted that this feature was optional for developers, adding, “just because this feature exists, does not mean you should or must use it.” Steam also said that game devs should only offer their player base a concrete date if there’s a “very high degree of confidence.”
If you’ve ever wanted “real” surround sound but hated the idea of speaker stands, visible wires, or a living room that looks like a gear showroom, an in-wall system is the clean solution. The Sonance MAG5.1 PREMIUM in-wall surround package is $1,499.00, saving $3,000 off the $4,499.00 compared value as a Presidents’ Day deal. That’s a massive discount for a setup that can deliver the kind of immersive movie and sports sound people usually associate with much more complicated systems.
What you’re getting
This is a 5.1-channel in-wall speaker system built around 6.5-inch in-wall speakers plus a wireless subwoofer. The practical win is simple: you get a full surround layout while keeping the speakers integrated into the room. The speakers are also paintable, which helps them blend in once installed.
A wireless subwoofer is a nice touch here because it gives you more flexibility in placement. You can position it where bass performs best, instead of being forced into the one spot a wire can reach.
Why it’s worth it
This deal stands out because it’s a full-package approach. Instead of piecing together speakers one by one, you’re jumping straight to a complete surround setup designed to work together. That matters for home theater, where matching performance across channels helps dialogue, effects, and music feel consistent.
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If you host movie nights, watch a lot of sports, or game in a main living space, surround sound is one of the most noticeable upgrades you can make. Crowd noise and stadium ambience feel bigger. Dialogue becomes easier to follow at lower volumes. Explosions and bass-heavy moments get the weight they’re supposed to have, without just turning everything up.
The bottom line
At $1,499, this Sonance MAG5.1 PREMIUM system is a strong value for anyone who wants a clean-looking surround setup with real immersion and a wireless sub to bring the low end. If you rent, move frequently, or do not want to cut into walls, it’s probably not the right fit. But if you’re ready to commit to a home theater experience without cluttering the room, this Presidents’ Day pricing is a rare opportunity.
The move would represent a notable change of course for Apple. Until now, Siri has been the only voice assistant allowed to operate within CarPlay’s interface. Opening the system to external AI models would let drivers access chatbots for everything from restaurant suggestions to quick research, all through a spoken… Read Entire Article Source link
It might be near impossible to be a kid these days without a smartphone, but AT&T wants to offer parents a decent compromise. The wireless carrier launched its AmiGO Jr. Phone, which combines Samsung hardware and AT&T’s app, to offer kids a smartphone that has parental controls baked right in.
The AmiGO Jr. Phone is just a Samsung Galaxy A16, which still remains a solid budget smartphone pick with a 50-megapixel main camera, a 6.7-inch display and reliable battery life. However, AT&T tweaked the Samsung hardware into its kid-friendly smartphone by including features like live location tracking, safe zones and screentime restrictions that can be controlled via the AmiGO app. It’s not the first time we’ve seen a smartphone with parental controls, since competitors like Bark and Pinwheel have been on the market for a couple of years now, but it’s the first time a major mobile carrier is offering its own standalone product.
As for the AmiGO Jr. Phone, it’s now available on AT&T’s website for $3 a month, but you’ll have to commit to a 36-month contract that provides bill credits. You still have to pay for your monthly service charges as an AT&T customer, but it’ll be cheaper than buying a Galaxy A16 outright for $200. For even more security, AT&T also launched its AmiGO Jr. Watch 2 to expand its ecosystem that already includes a tablet designed for kids.
Super Bowl Sunday has arrived. Today, the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will face off for Super Bowl 60. The Big Game is being played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, and kicks off at 6:30PM ET. Pre-game coverage for the 2026 NFL Championship Game starts at 12PM ET. Like all Sunday Night Football games during the regular season, Super Bowl 60 will be broadcast on NBC, and will stream live on Peacock. Here’s everything you need to know to tune in to Super Bowl LX today, including the game channel, where to stream, and all about the Halftime Show.
How to watch Super Bowl LX
Date: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026
Time: 6:30PM ET
TV channel: NBC, Telemundo
Streaming: Peacock, DirecTV, NFL+ and more
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2026 Super Bowl game time
The 2026 Super Bowl is set to begin at 6:30PM ET/3:30PM PT on Feb. 8, 2026.
2026 Super Bowl game channel
The 2026 Super Bowl will air on NBC, with a Spanish-language broadcast available on Telemundo.
2026 Super Bowl teams:
The New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks will play in the 2026 Super Bowl.
Where is the 2026 Super Bowl being played?
The 2026 Super Bowl will be held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, home of the San Francisco 49ers.
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What teams are playing in the 2026 Super Bowl?
The teams for the 2026 Super Bowl will be determined after the AFC and NFC Championship games are played on Sunday, Jan. 25. You can keep tabs on the post-season playoff bracket here.
How to watch the 2026 Super Bowl without cable
You can stream NBC and Telemundo on platforms like DirecTV and Hulu + Live TV, both of which are among Engadget’s choices for best streaming services for live TV. (Note that Fubo and NBC are currently in the midst of a contract dispute and NBC channels are not available on the platform.) The game will also be streaming on Peacock and on NFL+, though with an NFL+ subscription, you’re limited to watching the game on mobile devices.
In addition to hosting NBC’s Super Bowl broadcast, DirecTV’s Entertainment tier gets you access to loads of channels where you can tune in to college and pro sports throughout the year, including ESPN, TNT, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, and, depending on where you live, local affiliates for ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC.
Whichever package you choose, you’ll get unlimited Cloud DVR storage and access to ESPN Unlimited.
DirecTV’s Entertainment tier package is $49.99 for your first month. But you can currently try all this out for free for 5 days. If you’re interested in trying out a live-TV streaming service for football, but aren’t ready to commit, we recommend starting with DirecTV.
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For $11/month, an ad-supported Peacock subscription lets you stream live sports and events airing on NBC, including the 2026 Super Bowl, Winter Olympics coverage, and more. Plus, you’ll get access to thousands of hours of shows and movies, including beloved sitcoms such as Parks and Recreationand The Office, every Bravo show and much more.
For $17 monthly you can upgrade to an ad-free subscription which includes live access to your local NBC affiliate (not just during designated sports and events) and the ability to download select titles to watch offline.
Who is performing at the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show?
Bad Bunny, who holds the title as the most-streamed artist in the world, will be headlining the 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance. You can expect that show to begin after the second quarter, likely between 8-8:30PM ET. Singer Charlie Puth will also be at the game to perform the National Anthem, Brandi Carlile is scheduled to sing “America The Beautiful,” and Coco Jones will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
