The Vivoo FlowPad turns menstrual pads into an at-home hormone test
The Vivoo FlowPad turns menstrual pads into an at-home hormone test The FlowPad will measure follicle-stimulating hormone. | Image: Vivoo Wellness tech companies are increasingly interested in bodily fluids like blood, urine, sweat, and saliva. At CES 2026, it’s time to add menstrual blood to that list, too. Health tech startup Vivoo just announced the […]
The taint bandaid has evolved into the taint zapper
The taint bandaid has evolved into the taint zapper Alternatively, you could call it a gooch taser. | Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge Six years ago, I first laid eyes upon the taint bandaid. It was the first night of CES 2020. In a corner of the inaugural CES Unveiled showcase, there was […]
This egg-shaped gadget aims to demystify hormones… with pee
This egg-shaped gadget aims to demystify hormones… with pee Your urine can tell you a lot about your reproductive health hormones. Unfortunately, at-home testing can be cumbersome, involving collecting samples that are then mailed out to labs. That’s what health startup Mira is trying to simplify with its $249 Ultra4 Hormone Monitor. The pitch is […]
Withings thinks of its latest smart scale as a ‘longevity station’
Withings thinks of its latest smart scale as a 'longevity station' The Body Scan 2 will be available in Q2 2026, pending FDA clearance on some metrics. | Image: Withings Withings is back at CES 2026 with another smart scale: the $599.95 Body Scan 2. This time, it’s got an even tighter focus on cardiovascular […]
Welcome to the wellness surveillance state
Welcome to the wellness surveillance state A big part of my job is spending several hours per week staring at charts of my data. This is Optimizer, a weekly newsletter sent every Friday from Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song that dissects and discusses the latest phones, smartwatches, apps, and other gizmos that swear they’re going […]
Data centers in Oregon might be helping to drive an increase in cancer and miscarriages
Data centers in Oregon might be helping to drive an increase in cancer and miscarriages Morrow County, Oregon is home to mega farms and food processing plants. But it’s also home to several Amazon data centers. And now, some experts believe, that combination is leading to an alarmingly high concentration of nitrates in the drinking […]
You need to read the treatise on spacing out, Bored and Brilliant
You need to read the treatise on spacing out, Bored and Brilliant Take a walk. I have a tendency to space out. A lot. Whether it’s staring out the window on Amtrak or pausing at work to fixate on a blank spot on the wall instead of my screen, I often let my mind wander. […]
AI chatbots are helping hide eating disorders and making deepfake ‘thinspiration’
AI chatbots are helping hide eating disorders and making deepfake 'thinspiration' AI chatbots “pose serious risks to individuals vulnerable to eating disorders,” researchers warned on Monday. They report that tools from companies like Google and OpenAI are doling out dieting advice, tips on how to hide disorders, and AI-generated “thinspiration.” The researchers, from Stanford and […]
‘Clinical-grade AI’: a new buzzy AI word that means absolutely nothing
'Clinical-grade AI': a new buzzy AI word that means absolutely nothing Earlier this month, Lyra Health announced a “clinical-grade” AI chatbot to help users with “challenges” like burnout, sleep disruptions, and stress. There are eighteen mentions of “clinical” in its press release, including “clinically designed,” “clinically rigorous,” and “clinical training.” For most people, myself included, […]
Kohler’s new toilet camera provides health insights based on your bathroom breaks
Kohler's new toilet camera provides health insights based on your bathroom breaks Using an expanding clamping mechanism the Kohler Dekoda installs on most toilets without tools. | Image: Kohler Knowing what’s coming out of your body can be just as useful for maintaining a healthy lifestyle as being choosy about what goes into it. As […]