A study is underway to see if Apple Watches can detect COVID-19 and it is now taking volunteers.  However, the eligibility requirements are strict and narrow.

The study has partnered with the University of Washington and Seattle Flu Study to take applications from volunteers.

An Apple Watch study announced in September to see whether the device can detect diseases like COVID-19 is now taking applications for volunteers.

via Kent Porter

Researchers at the University of Washington are seeking King County residents to participate in a respiratory health study using data collected from Apple Watches. The study examines if, and how, an Apple Watch can detect early warning signs of acute respiratory infections, such as COVID-19 and flu, according to UW Medicine’s Brotman Baty Institute.

The study was announced last year in September 2020 with the launch of the Apple Watch Series 6. Check out the announcement below:

Finally, investigators with the Seattle Flu Study at the Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine and faculty from the University of Washington School of Medicine will seek to learn how signals from apps on Apple Watch, such as Heart Rate and Blood Oxygen, could serve as early signs of respiratory conditions like influenza and COVID-19.’

There are two other studies being done as well by the University of California, Irvine, and Anthem, and the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at the University Health Network.

For volunteers to participate in the UW Medicine study, you must live in the Greater Seattle area, be at least twenty-two years or older, have an iPhone 6s or better, be completely fluent in English, and be willing to participate for six months. The Apple Watch will be provided to you by the study. You can read the full eligibility criteria here.

What are your thoughts concerning Apple Watches possibly being used to detect COVID-19? Sound off in the comments’ section below!

It is being reported that rapper and actor, DMX, is now in “grave condition,” following a drug overdose which triggered a heart attack last night.

The fifty year old rapper was rushed to a White Plains, New York hospital, but the true state of his condition remains unknown as multiple reports are coming in that he is fighting for his life, or in a vegetative state after being declared brain dead. Neither his family or representatives has yet to release an official statement on his condition.

DMX has battled drug addiction and substance abuse most of his life. In 2019, he canceled four tour dates to check into a rehab facility, apologizing to his fans for the disappointment. In multiple interviews, and most notably on OWN’s Iyanla Vanzant: Fix My Life,” the effects of said abuse has been disastrous to his family and marred his career and personal life. Still, the love and support from both celebrities and fans has been overwhelming, with many taking to social media.

Missy Elliot posted, “Prayers for DMX” on her Instagram account; with other rappers like Swizz Beatz and Rick Ross following suit. The former posted a sunset over the ocean, and the latter posting “Prayers up #DMX” with a video to an Instagram Story.

 

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A post shared by Swizz Beatz (@therealswizzz)

Fans too have posted their well wishes, as well as their disbelief in his relapse: “Prayers to the real rough rider,” @bitchiwas999 posted with a picture of DMX at a concert, meanwhile @RasheedPanda tweeted, “The worst thing is that we all thought he had been sober this whole last year, he did songs and looked healthier and everything. Addiction ain’t no damn joke.”

As aforementioned this story is still unfolding. We will report back with new information as it becomes available and would like to send our own personal prayers up for DMX.

In a surprising turn of events, Warner Bros. has opted to cancel Ava DuVernay’s “New Gods” film and the Aquaman spinoff movie, “The Trench.”

The New Gods

“New Gods” is based off a race of fictional characters of the same name created by Jack Kirby. These “New Gods” are beings from an alternate universe, The Fourth World, dominated by two planets, New Genesis and Apokolips, who are constantly at war. The latter world has a number of heroes and villains who have been both allies and enemies to DC Comics’ superheroes. The New God, Steppenwolf, was the primary antagonist of Joss Whedon and Zack Snyder’s versions of “The Justice League” movie.

As aforementioned, “The Trench” is a spinoff of Warner Bros.’ highly successful “Aquaman” film, set in an area of the Earth’s oceans haunted by Atlanteans who became monsters, warped from their time trapped there for generations. In the Aquaman film it was the place the titular character’s mother, Atlanna, was imprisoned for having him.

Monsters from “The Trench” in Aquaman

This news comes on the heels of the company going through a complete overhaul of its DC Comics based superhero properties in film, streaming on HBO Max, and its television series on The CW, dubbed the “Arrowverse” (an interconnected series of shows including Arrow, The Flash, Black Lightning, Supergirl, Superman & Lois, Batwoman, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, and Stargirl).

Warner Bros. and DC Comics released a statement concerning the cancellations, “As part of our DC slate, some legacy  development titles including New Gods and The Trench will not be moving forward. We thank our partners Ava DuVernay, Tom King, James Wan and Peter Safran for their time and collaboration during this process and look forward to our continued partnership with them on other DC stories. The projects will remain in their skillful hands if they were to move forward in the future.”

Ava DuVernay would have been the first African-American woman to lead a superhero film for Warner Bros. and DC Comics. Ava has not released an official statement concerning her film’s cancellation but did tweet the following:

Tom, I loved writing NEW GODS with you. I’m upset that the saga of Barda, Scott, Granny, Highfather and The Furies ends this way. Diving into Kirby’s Fourth World was the adventure of a lifetime. That can’t be taken away. Thank you for your friendship. And remember… #DarkseidIs pic.twitter.com/XyyIjcB8Wv

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 1, 2021

Although Ava will not be doing “New Gods” for the foreseeable future. However, she will still be at the helm of The CW’s latest superhero series, “Naomi,” set to debut this fall.