Breakthrough heart transplant, new data security risks, and more

The Texas Heart Institute and BiVACOR implanted a titanium artificial heart using magnetic levitation technology to pump blood efficiently.

• The TAH supports patients awaiting heart transplants by replacing both heart ventricles with a single, durable moving part.
• An FDA-supervised clinical trial began at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center to test the TAH's safety and effectiveness in severe heart failure patients.
• Capable of pumping 12 liters of blood per minute, the TAH offers new hope for addressing the global heart transplant shortage.
• The outcome for the initial patient, who received the BiVACOR TAH implant, was positive, indicating that the procedure was successful and paving the way for further clinical evaluations.

Researchers found that hackers can steal information by eavesdropping on electromagnetic emissions from HDMI cables and using AI to decode the data.

• With software-defined radio and deep learning, they could reconstruct screen content with 70% accuracy, revealing passwords and sensitive information.
• Although complex and requiring special equipment, this attack poses a higher risk to government agencies and corporations than to average users.
• To protect against this threat, avoid displaying sensitive information on HDMI-connected screens, use encrypted connections, and be cautious in public spaces.

The pandemic spurred a surge in outdoor activities like golf, fishing, and pickleball, highlighting a significant gap in technological innovation within the outdoor recreation industry.

• Entrepreneurs are now capitalizing on this opportunity by developing SaaS software for fishing guides, as well as AI-powered apps for booking golf tee times.
• Venture capital interest in sports tech has grown significantly, with investments rising from $48.60 million in 2019 to $949.26 million in 2021, before dropping to $189.71 million in 2023.
• Startups are transforming the outdoor recreation sector, from booking platforms to modern gear design, driven by consumer demand for seamless online interactions and technology integration in all aspects of life.

TikTok will permanently withdraw its TikTok Lite rewards program from the EU and stop similar features, concluding the first investigation under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

• The European Commission raised concerns about potential mental health impacts and addictive behavior from TikTok Lite, prompting formal proceedings in April.
• TikTok Lite allowed users to earn points for activities like watching videos, which could be exchanged for rewards. The app's rollout was suspended during the investigation.
• The binding decision means any breach would violate the DSA, leading to fines. Other DSA investigations into platforms like X, Meta, and Aliexpress continue.