Diving physiology in penguins has been extensively studied in the bigger, deep diving species akin to emperor and gentoo penguins, however the blood oxygen storage capability of the mid-depth diving crested penguins is much less understood. For this venture, I measured the concentrations of hemoglobin and BloodVitals hematocrit in three species of crested penguins (Fiordland penguin/tawaki, erect-crested penguin, and Eastern rockhopper penguin) in New Zealand to match oxygen storage capability and dive depth/time. Data analysis for this challenge continues to be underway, but preliminary results suggest that the larger erect-crested penguin has the very best hemoglobin and hematocrit values of the three suggesting the next oxygen storage capability in the blood and more environment friendly transport of oxygen to the tissues allowing deeper or longer dives. Data from this challenge was cited in New Zealand Geographic 2023 article The longer term is Written in Penguin Blood (see Media tab for hyperlinks). Publication of a short observe containing these values is on deck for Notornis.

The Apple Watch Series 6 feels like it has perfected many of the options I liked about its predecessor. It has a brighter all the time-on display, a extra powerful processor, faster charging and two new colorful choices to choose from. But the feature I was most excited to check out was its new sensor that measures oxygen saturation within the blood (aka BloodVitals SPO2) with the tap of a display. As somebody who panic-purchased a pulse oximeter firstly of the coronavirus pandemic and still checks her ranges at the first sign of a cough, the thought of getting one strapped to my wrist always was enough to pique my curiosity. But in contrast to the ECG function on the Apple Watch, which has been tried, examined and cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration, together with the irregular coronary heart rhythm notifications, BloodVitals SPO2 on the Apple Watch nonetheless appears to be in its early phases. Navigating all this new data might be daunting for anyone who's not a medical professional.

I purchased an FDA-cleared pulse oximeter, the gadget docs use to measure BloodVitals SPO2 in your fingertip, as a precaution when coronavirus circumstances within the US started to climb. Having low blood oxygen ranges does not guarantee you've got COVID-19, but it's one in all the key symptoms of the disease. I had read horror tales of people who waited too lengthy to go to the hospital and had died in their sleep as a result of they did not notice their levels had dipped in a single day. You should at all times check with a physician if you're experiencing shortness of breath (another symptom of COVID-19), even if a pulse oximeter says you're in a wholesome range, but I discovered consolation in realizing that I might not less than use it as a reference if I ever skilled shortness of breath. That's not something you can do with the Apple Watch -- Apple says it must be used for wellness functions solely and not as a medical machine, meaning you may need to take the results with a grain of salt and should not use it to display for any type of illness, which is what I had been hoping to get out of it.

But there could also be different advantages of getting it strapped in your wrist at all times. Very like a pulse oximeter, BloodVitals the Series 6 uses purple and infrared mild from its new sensor to find out the percentage of oxygen within the blood. But as a substitute of shining the light via your fingertip, it makes use of the sunshine that is mirrored back from the blood vessels in your wrist to find out your oxygen levels based mostly on the shade of your blood. In the course of the setup course of you are asked whether or BloodVitals not or not you wish to activate BloodVitals SPO2 tracking, which I did, but you possibly can always go back and disable it in the settings after the very fact. The very first thing I did after strapping on the Watch was open the Blood Oxygen app. It gives you just a few tips on tips on how to get the most effective end result and you want to rest your arm on a desk or BloodVitals flat floor while the Watch is taking a reading.

Then the 15-second countdown begins and you're executed -- easy and painless. I received a 95% on my first read, which was decrease than what I'm used to from my pulse oximeter. Anything above 90% is usually thought of by clinicians to be within a healthy vary, however usually, increased is healthier. I examined it a number of extra instances and BloodVitals SPO2 received barely completely different outcomes within a few proportion points relying on whether or not I used to be completely nonetheless and silent through the check, the place I had the watch positioned on my wrist and the way tight the strap was. There are numerous components that can have an effect on a reading, corresponding to pores and skin temperature or the position of the sensors on the body. Side-by-facet with my pulse oximeter, the Apple Watch was usually off by about one or two points, however typically spot on. What was extra fascinating to me was the SpO2 knowledge that collected over time within the Health app .