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Olympic Facts and History Day 2:

Youngest Olympic Medalist: The youngest Olympic medalist ever is Dimitrios Loundras from Greece, who won a bronze medal in gymnastics at the age of 10 years and 218 days during the 1896 Athens Olympics.

Innovation

Titanium Heart

The Texas Heart Institute has successfully implanted an artificial titanium heart using the same technology as bullet trains to pump blood mechanically throughout the body. Called the Total Artificial Heart (TAH), this development represents a significant advancement in extending patients' lives while they wait for heart transplants.

In collaboration with medical tech company BiVACOR, Texas Heart developed the TAH. It's a titanium biventricular rotary blood pump with a single moving part, utilizing a magnetically levitated rotor to pump blood and replace both ventricles of a failing heart.

Magnetic levitation reduces friction by preventing moving parts from scraping or sliding against each other, greatly increasing the device's lifespan. The TAH can pump blood at a rate of 12 liters per minute, sufficient for an adult male to engage in exercise.

The first-in-human clinical study, closely monitored by the FDA, aims to evaluate the safety and performance of the BiVACOR TAH as a bridge-to-transplant solution for patients with severe bi or univentricular heart failure. Following the first implantation at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in the Texas Medical Center, four more patients will be enrolled in the study.

Dr. Joseph Rogers, President and CEO of The Texas Heart Institute, stated, “With heart failure as a leading cause of death worldwide, the BiVACOR TAH offers hope for many patients awaiting a heart transplant. We are proud to be leading this medical breakthrough with BiVACOR, Baylor College of Medicine, and Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center.”

Heart failure affects at least 26 million people worldwide, including 6.2 million adults in the US, and is on the rise. Heart transplants are limited to fewer than 6,000 procedures annually, despite an estimated 100,000 patients in the US alone who could benefit from mechanical alternatives.

The successful implantation of BiVACOR’s TAH underscores the potential of new technologies to address critical challenges in cardiac care, such as long transplant waitlists.

Daniel Timms, founder and CTO of BiVACOR, acknowledged the courage of the first patient and their family, the dedication of the team, and the expertise of collaborators at The Texas Heart Institute in making this achievement possible.

Culture

Art Historian Finds Hidden Henry VIII Portrait in Social Media Post

Social media can lead to surprising discoveries, like a recent one in the UK where an art consultant and historian noticed a lost work of art in the background of a photo posted on X.

The discovery happened in the judge’s room of the Shire Court in Warwickshire, England, during a soiree hosted by the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire.

Dr. Adam Busiakiewicz, an art historian and consultant for Sotheby’s, came across the post on X by Warwickshire Lieutenancy by chance. He noticed a portrait with a distinctive arched top depicting Henry VIII. The painting, showing the king holding a sword and wearing golden chains, reminded Dr. Busiakiewicz of a set of portraits from centuries ago that depicted European royals like Henry, Richard III, and Catherine de Medici.

The painting was created by an anonymous artist known as the Sheldon Master. Ralph Sheldon, either an associate, relative, or descendant, incorporated the works into an architectural frieze at his Warwickshire estate, Weston House, where they were displayed until at least the 18th century.

Today, only a few of these paintings survive in public and private collections, with most disappearing after a 1781 auction. Busiakiewicz visited Warwickshire to inspect the work and noted that it matched the size and style of other known paintings in the set, suggesting it was the work of a skilled artist.

Olympics

Olympic Highlights

We have some more fantastic highlights. Some of these events are definitely less well know, and one, break dancing, is brand new.

I have never watched a break dancing competition before this. It takes some incredible skill for sure.

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Mind Stretchers

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What has one eye but can’t see?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

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