I’m Ready for My Genetic Closeup

A lot of people don’t know this, but all throughout my teenage years, I had a dream of becoming a geneticist. At the time, the Human Genome Project was nearing completion. Now regarded as one of the greatest scientific feats of all time, this project was all about mapping and sequencing the entire human genome, which had never been done to date. Scientists started it in 1990 and didn’t complete it until 2003.

Since the completion of the Human Genome Project, enormous strides have been made in genomics that are changing everything we know about our bodies, our health, and our family histories. Most importantly, the costs of sequencing the average genome has dropped so low that millions are now doing it.

For the past 10 years, services like 23andMe have existed, where for less than $300, you can spit in a tube and get back data about your body, ranging from personal traits (like eye color and fast or slow twitch muscles) to disease risks to ancestry/ethnic backgrounds.

But while I have personally used 23andMe and enjoyed it, I’ve always known that the results were not 100 percent specific to my genome… in fact, it only looks at 0.02 percent of a genome. These types of services tend to aggregate a portion of your genes and compare it to the population of other genomes they have sequenced. Thus, your results are only directional in nature. So, for example, if they say that you “likely have freckles” that’s because they are sampling your genes and comparing it to people who have similar genetic ancestry backgrounds (aka more shared genes) who also have freckles.

Now enter Veritas, one of the newest brands on the personal genomics market. In 2016, it launched a service that will sequence your entire genome (yes, that means all 6.4 BILLION letters) for $999. I realize that’s expensive to most people, but that is like pennies compared to what it cost 10 years ago (hundreds of thousands of dollars). You also get way more data back — from clinically-relevant findings of over 1,200 conditions to a full report of your drug/prescription sensitivities to, of course, ancestry information as well as reports highlighting personal traits like freckling and longevity.

One reason why I’ve always been so excited about these types of services is that I have very little idea where I come from. My dad was adopted at birth and has never known anything about his birth parents. And while my mom was not adopted, her father (my grandfather) lost his parents when he was young and thus does not have very much information on where he comes from. (He’s now nearly 90 years old, so his memory is not as sharp either.) The one thing he knows is that he’s part Native American, but he isn’t sure how much.

On the flip side, now that I have two young kids, I’m constantly curious about what disease risks or personal traits may be passed onto them from me and my husband. Perhaps there are some that I could help diminish before they become bigger problems.

It’s for all these reasons why I was so thrilled to meet the folks from Veritas in person. What started as me totally fangirling about their service turned into me explaining the curiosity about my own genomics, and then ended with them asking if I’d want to partner to help sequence the full genomes of my dad, my grandfather, my husband and myself. With these four sets of data, I’d be able to get a 360-picture of myself and my family.

Suffice it to say, I’m PUMPED. How cool is it that this technology even exists? My grandfather is still trying to understand why he had to spit in a tube and send it off in the mail, but as of now, all samples have been sent and we’re all waiting for our results. Stay tuned because I can’t wait to report back on what I learn, and why it can be valuable to you as well. And until then, check out the Veritas site to see how it all works. Perhaps it may make sense to learn a bit more about your body, health, and ancestry as well!

Have you used a program like Veritas or 23andMe to find out more about yourself? Share your thoughts with me on Twitter, @brit.

It seemed like Chrissy Teigen was living out a real life Parent Trap scene this past weekend, when a genetic test revealed a long lost identical twin. Teigen quickly took to Instagram, sharing her results from genetic testing service 23andMe, which quickly led her to start “spiraling” amidst the news.

"I paid for some of the upgrades and the first thing that came up after I found out that I was part neanderthal, was this: Identical twin," she said in a video clip, showing off her family tree with a little circle next to her initials. "That has to be a joke, right?"

The Cravings cookbook author, 37, explained to followers that she wrote to the company, texted her doctor and even reached out to her twin, to no avail. Following the life-altering news, Teigen called her father to find out the truth.

"I'm literally saying, 'Dad, hey, did you see me come out of mom's vagina and were there two of me?' Teigen recalled. "He starts laughing, saying 'No, I was there, there are not two of you!' I was like, 'Are you sure you were there?' "

www.instagram.com

She then made another call to her sister, who gasped after Teigen directly asked if she had an identical twin.

"At this point, I'm making excuses for my whole life. I'm like, 'This is why I'm so codependent, because my twin was ripped away from me! This is why I always felt something missing and this is why I have addition issues,'" Teigen said. "...I'm like, literally, 'Holy f*ck!'"

But Teigen's sister reminded her of a PBS show that she participated in, Finding Your Roots, which features celebrities diving into their ancestral histories. Though Teigen's episode was never finished, she did complete a DNA test and put it under a pseudonym to protect her identity.

As it turns out, Teigen’s identical 23andMe twin was (much to her surprise) herself, as her previous genetic contribution was already registered in the service’s database.

"My identical twin was myself!" Teigen said.

We can’t imagine how crazy those 24 hours must have been for Teigen. I mean – what would you do if you found out you had a long lost identical twin?! We’d probably be spiraling, too!

Stay updated on all of the latest celeb news with Brit + Co.

Header image by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Fans of Fourth Wing are on pins and needles because Rebecca Yarros just announced she's finished writing the third book in the Empyrean series! It's us, we're fans — along with over half of BookTok.

We can't believe we're getting closer to reading more about Violet Sorrengail's journey, but we know you have a ton of burning questions about the release date for Book No. 3.

We may not have all the answers, but we've done a little digging to share as much as we can because who doesn't want to know what Rebecca Yarros has been up to?

I'm new to the Empyrean series. Are "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame" really worth reading?

Amazon

I'm not going to lie to you. The editorial team, including myself, are extremely biased about Fourth Wingand Iron Flame. From my perspective, I think these are great books for anyone who had the pleasure of growing up during the great Harry Potter era and moved on to watchingGame of Thrones and House of Dragons.

Did she announce the name of book no. 3?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram

YES! Book No. 3 is titled Oynx Storm.

Knowing what we do about the manifestation of Violet's powers, I think this could hint she's going to play an even larger role in the series. According to a fan theory shared on TikTok(via Empyrean Riders), it's believed that Violet and Xaden Riorson are actually gods. Stay with me here.

Empyrean Riders noted that Violet's last name means heavenly and that she's able to control time thanks to her connection to the young dragon Andarna (I love her so much!). That sounds pretty god-like to me.

And when asked which two Taylor Swift songs describe Onyx Storm, Rebecca Yarros chose "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" from The Tortured Poets Department and "So It Goes..." from Reputation. "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" is one of Taylor's most powerful songs and definitely translates the idea that Violet's powers are going to be stronger than ever, while "So It Goes..." is equal parts suspense and seduction, and is TOTALLY about "all the pieces fall right into place" to get together with the right person.

There's so much more to unpack so I suggest grabbing a yummy snack while you fall down the rabbit hole. All I'm sure of is that Onyx Storm is going to leave our emotions in shambles just like Fourth Wing and Iron Flame did.

When did Rebecca Yarros announce she's done writing book no. 3 in the series?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram

On June 17, Rebecca Yarros shared this image of her laptop to indicate she'd finished the third book in the Empyrean series.

She wrote, "(Pic from one of the very many locations in which this book was written)," towards the end of the caption before adding a few relevant hashtags to it.

When will Onxy Storm be available for purchase?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram

Rebecca Yarros exclusively told Good Morning America that fans can expect the book to hit shelves January 21, 2025! That gives us a little over six months to prepare our emotions for what's sure to be a storm of a book.

She said, "There will be politics, new adventures, old enemies and of course, dragons." There's no way she could forget the dragons because I'd willingly riot over them. They deserve to have their stories told forever.

As luck would have it, Cosmopolitan received an exciting first look at what's to come in Onyx Storm. The excerpt begins with Violet realizing the Venin have found their way into Basgiath War College and are wreaking havoc. Alongside Rhiannon, Sawyer, and Ridoc, she races to stop the Venin from releasing Jack Barlowe from his prison cell.

However, Violet's shocked when she discovered one of the "dark wielders" has a long silver braid that closely resembles her own. Before she can fully react, the woman disappears. According to Screen Rant, there are possible theories about why Violet saw her and what this means for her growing power.

Towards the end of the excerpt, Violet discovers the Venin want to capture her too. Also, Xaden makes his long-awaited appearance and it's clear their playful banter in the face of danger hasn't changed. That he hasn't fully changed into the Venin Violet's used to seeing.

I officially can't wait to read the rest of the book in January!

Has Rebecca Yarros revealed the cover for Onyx Storm?

Today/Bree Archer, Elizabeth Turner Stokes for Entangled Publishing

Onyx Storm

Yes!

TODAY received an exclusive look at the cover for Onyx Storm and it doesn't disappoint! Unlike its predecessors, it appears Rebecca Yarros is hinting that darker events will take place.

Fans of the Empyrean series aren't the only ones who are excited to see what fate has in store for our favorite characters though. In a statement to TODAY, Rebecca revealed how elated she is to be working on the series again. "It's amazing to be back with these characters again. She also said, ""I can't wait for readers to see what Violet, Xaden, and the rest of the quadrant have in store for them in Onyx Storm!"

Are you excited for the release of Onyx Storm? Follow us on Facebook for more entertainment news!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.

The CDC calls for widespread anti-body testing as the best defense so far against a second wave of coronavirus — and states like California, New York and Florida are ramping up. Knowing more about our bodies can help prevent disease down the road and knowing whether you have immunity against one as fatal and contagious as COVID-19 can help prevent others from getting sick too.

Of course, preventive health starts with regular check ins with your MD but there are many ways tech has made it easier to track your health and wellness beyond the annual physical, helping to keep potential disease at bay. (The CDC, in fact, has an easy tool to know which screenings and vaccines you need for your age/lifestyle.) From apps to wearables to super cool innovations in health tech, here are ways to uplevel your preventive care and check in with your body's ever-evolving changes.

Apps

For starters, there are plenty of free and low-cost apps that help you track your health and wellness:

  • Apple's Health app tracks everything from what you eat to your fitness to your period cycle. See how your cholesterol or blood pressure or weight has changed over the years or review your exercise activity for any given day.
  • Cronometer Trying keto for a week? Manage calories and carbs with this app.
  • Fooducate will track your mood, hunger, and sleep levels and will even send you alerts when you're about to eat something not so healthy.
  • Instant Heart Rate measures your heart rate when you place your finger over the camera lens. It works by sensing slight changes in the color of your fingertip that occur with each heartbeat.
  • My Fitness Pal makes it easy to track things like diet, sleep, and exercise.

Wearables

Wearables can be more convenient than carrying your phone on your body. Here are some smart devices that can check in on your bod while you work out, sleep, eat, breathe and more:


Oura Ring $299

This titanium ring monitors how your body is doing through all stages of the day. It wraps around your finger, where the pulse is strongest to capture your resting heart rate, body temp and more. You get three daily scores on sleep, activity and readiness and advice for how to improve. Check in with Oura's Moment feature for a guided meditation or mindful breathing sesh.

It's one of Brit's faves: "This is by far the most accurate and fashionable sleep tracker I've ever used. It predicts what my energy will be like each day and even whether I should work out or not!" Now get $30 off until May 15 by linking here.

Chilipad Sleep System $499

Score amazing naps with this temperature-controlled/game-changing sleep system. The pad uses water-based heating and cooling to give you the perfect temperature for much-needed deep sleep.

It's another Brit favorite: "Trust me when I *legitimately* say that this thing falls into my top three favorite products of ALL TIME. It has changed my life and saved my marriage. For real!"

Nutrisense $175 and up

This continuous glucose monitor goes right on your arm to report your sugar levels throughout a two-week period and the app connects you with nutritionists who can help you along your journey. Submit your health questionnaire to see if you qualify.

Fitbit Flex $120

This Fitbit tracks your steps, distance, calories burned, active/nonactive minutes while sending you reminders to get moving. It tracks your sleep too: how long and how well you sleep so you're inspired to make better bedtime habits.

Biostrap Total Health Set $250
This wristband and "shoepod" tracks your heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate and sleep, plus gives you detailed information about your workouts. You can even create your own library of custom workouts.

Body Scans and Tests

Genetic testing, whole body MRIs and 3D scanning are just some of the innovations that go beyond your annual physical:

23andMe $199

This home-based saliva testing kit is all you need to get the deets on your DNA. Simply spit in a tube and in a few weeks you'll get reports letting you know about your likelihood for certain health conditions. According to the company, 76 percent reported making healthier choices after using the product.

Vo2 Max up to $250, depending on provider

VO2 max tests the amount of oxygen you use during your workouts, which is known to be the best indicator of how fit you are, how fast your metabolism is and your overall cardiovascular fitness. You'll find this test at some gyms and holistic health clinics (Google VO2 max testing near me). How does it work? You'll wear a mask and heart rate monitor hooked up to a treadmill or stationary bike that collects and measures the volume of oxygen you inhale and exhale.

DEXA Scan $75 for initial assessment, $50 for subsequent

A DEXA scan is a diagnostic test similar to an X-ray that your doc can use to measure your bone density and whether you're at higher risk for fractures (it's often used to diagnose osteoporosis). But it also can measure your lean muscle mass and body composition to help inform your workouts. Research from the University of Oxfordshows that butt, hip, and thigh fat is healthy and can actually lower your risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes while extra weight around your waist can lead to obesity, which means it can be good to know where your fat sits in your body.

Fit3D Proscanner Cost varies by location

In just 40 seconds, this 3D body scanner will capture your body's circumference measurements, body composition, posture analysis, Body Shape Rating (BSR), Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and shows you how you compare health-wise against others of your gender and age. You can find 3D body scanners like Fit3D mainly in gyms, health clubs, and fitness studios.

Q.bio $3495/membership

This "physical of the future" makes it easier to pick up on signs of disease at the earliest stages. Membership is steep at the early adopter stage but includes a whole body MRI, genetic analysis, biochem analysis of your blood, saliva, urine and vitals and a super-detailed but easy-to-understand readout and review of all your body's organs: your heart, brain, uterus… The non-invasive scan can detect changes linked to common cancers, cardiac, neurodegenerative, metabolic diseases and more.

What are your favorite ways to track your health these days? Share with us @BritandCo!

Kate Winslet is THE Hollywood actress to me. Not only has she starred in box office smashes like Titanic and Avatar: Way of Water, but she's proven her acting chops in breakout indie flicks and provided mothers and daughters everywhere with eternal Christmas movie nights thanks to The Holiday. But the actress' consistently viral kindness, her dedication to embracing her natural beauty, and her sophistication don't mean she always feels confident. Kate Winslet just spilled on the one movie from her career that had her "sh—ing" herself, and I just had to dive in.

Here's what Kate Winslet had to say about her scariest movie experience ever.

  • Kate Winslet made a name for herself with Titanic, Sense & Sensibility, and The Holiday.
  • However those movies aren't the film she wants fans to ask about!
  • The actress spills on the movies she's proud of, and the one job that had her "sh—ing myself."

Talking to Vanity Fair for her newest film Lee, Kate Winslet revealed one project she wishes fans asked about more is Iris. The 2001 film stars Kate as a young Iris Murdoch against Judi Dench's older counterpart. And for Kate, nothing was more terrifying than working with such a wonderful actress.

"People don’t really ask me about Iris. It’s such a delicate film," she says. "It was the first thing I had done after having my daughter. Going to work with a baby, I’m playing Iris Murdoch, looking to Judi Dench’s older Iris Murdoch — I was sh—ting myself."

Considering how nervous I get when I meet my heroes, I can only imagine what it was like to meet Dame Judi Dench. Talk about a dream! Another film Kate loves is Revolutionary Road, and not just because she got to reunite with Leonardo DiCaprio.

"The thing that people say is, 'You got to work with Leo again.' Then they go off on the whole Leo tangent, which I totally understand," she says of the film, which follows an ambitious couple who find themselves trapped in the reality of 1950s suburbia. "But Revolutionary Road — f—king hell, it just knocked us all sideways. Unbelievably difficult material. I was very proud of that film and what Leo and I were able to create as Frank and April. It was so brutal."

The process for getting Lee into the world sounds equally brutal, considering Kate started working on it over a decade ago. As producer, Kate tells Vanity Fair she doesn't mind the fact she's done more for the film than if she only had an acting credit. "That has felt very necessary for this film. But it’s also just really important to me," she says. "It’s important to me that people know that it’s out there and might feel compelled to go and see it."

Because it turns out, commercial success or stardom on its own doesn't actually help your movie get made! "It doesn’t matter who you are," she says. "No one’s going to go, 'Oh, I’ll just back that pony because she was in Titanic.' It doesn’t happen that way, and I never expected that. That’s really important to say."

"I've gotten older and I’ve learned more and felt more confident in myself about whether or not I could actually do it," she adds. "It’s not something I would’ve done had I not felt so passionately about the subject, and Lee was just—she wouldn’t let me go."

Let us know your favorite Kate Winslet movies in the comments, and since we've officially entered cozy season, check out Why The Holiday Movie Ending Is The Most Important Scene while you're at it!

Marvel movies are known for their heroes and their hopeful outlook on the world. But in 2025, we're getting a brand new team: the Thunderbolts. This team is made up of antiheroes and former villains, and it's sure to be the wackiest and strangest, as well as one of the most memorable, superhero movies we've seen in recent years.

Keep reading for the latest news on Thunderbolts* before it hits theaters in 2025.

Marvel Studios/YouTube

Thunderbolts* comes out this May, and the cast just showed off some brand new footage at the D23 convention — and thanks to the new 'Celebrating 85 Years' spot, we have the first look too!

We get a look at Bucky Barnes, The Red Guardian, John Walker, and Ghost. Plus, Yelena Belova, of course. This heartbreaking detail about Yelena's new look connects Florence Pugh's Yelena to Scarlett Johansson's Natashaand I'm WEEPING.

Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Studios

And at D23 Brazil, we got a brand new look at my new favorite team. "There’s something in this film, in terms of superpowers and superheroes, that shows that our superpowers lie in how ‘broken’ we are," David Harbour said at the event. "As if our superpowers came from our relationships.”

What is the plot of Thunderbolts?

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Thunderbolts* Plot

Consider Thunderbolts* to be The Avengers' edgy younger sibling. The movie follows Yelena Belova (who we know off the bat is a "depressed assassin" thanks to a Marvel Studios press release). She's joined by Bucky Barnes, The Red Guardian, and John Walker. Based on a leak, it looks like we'll see this group of misfits team up against Valentina Allegra de Fontaine after she sends them on a deadly mission.

Thunderbolts* Release Date

Jesse Grant/Disney

Thunderbolts* Release Date

Thunderbolts* hits theaters May 2, 2025.

Who's on the Thunderbolts team?

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Thunderbolts* Cast

Thunderbolts* stars Florence Pugh, Geraldine Viswanathan, Lewis Pullman, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sebastian Stan, and David Harbour.

This is a huge cast, and Viswanathan just revealed how crazy the first day of filming was. “My first day didn’t feel real," she tells Vanity Fair. "I felt this extra pressure of, ‘Know your lines, babe. You can’t really play around like you usually do.’"

Historically, sci-fi fans haven't been kind to actresses in their favorite projects (remember when Star Wars fans bullied Kelly Marie Tran off social media?). But Viswanathan is already thinking ahead. “If it’s overwhelming, I’ll log off. But I like discourse around pop culture,” she says. “[Thunderbolts*] felt a little bit edgier and fresher, more existential and dark.”

Jesse Grant/Disney

The rest of the cast also enjoyed working together. “Everyone is going to f—kin’ love me! It’s really, really, really fun to be with a group of actors that you have a good time with," Wyatt Russell says at Comic Con (via Variety), while David Harbour adds, “Florence Pugh [is] just electric to work with. There’s warmth and humor, but there’s also a lot of pathos.”

“This is why we can't stop laughing together, because we genuinely just had such a wonderful time with each other and we've loved working with one another," Pugh tells People. “I feel like this is something that we've never seen before from Marvel...it's a very open and honest and truthful idea. And I'm just really excited for people to watch it.”

Are you excited for this brand new chapter in the MCU? I really feel like Thunderbolts* will usher in a whole new generation of fans and I, for one, CANNOT WAIT! Let us know your thoughts on Facebook.

Lead images via Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

This post has been updated.