heartbeats

3D X-ray provides window into heart health

Researchers at the University of Liverpool say they have developed a new imaging technique that will help them identify, and thus analyze, tissue fibers in the heart that control whether the muscle beats regularly.

Using a micro CT scanner, the team imaged hearts whose tissue had been highlighted using iodine. The scientists discovered that certain tissue -- the conducting tissue that sends an electrical wave to trigger each heartbeat -- absorbed less of the solution than the muscular tissue.

This contrast made it easier to identify which tissue was producing electrical activity in 3D, which has until this study had … Read more

Celebrity-endorsed headphones: Some good, some bad

Monster and Dr. Dre spearheaded the trend of celebrity-endorsed headphones, starting with the eponymous Monster Beats by Dr. Dre and Lady Gaga's own signature earbuds. But an increasing number of artists are partnering with other manufacturers for their own collaborations.

Signeo announced the Soul by Ludacris headphone series at CES 2011, and 50 Cent stopped by the CNET stage this year to demo his own wireless cans, but does a celebrity shout-out mean that those devices sound better than the competition?

Check out the following list to get the real scoop on all these new headphones supported by famous musicians.… Read more

Monster debuts new Lady Gaga earphones

Beats by Dr. Dre and Monster have rolled out a new set of Heartbeats earphones designed Lady Gaga that the company says were "inspired by leather and studs."

There's a tremendous amount of marketing garbage in the press release with all kinds of celebrity name-dropping, but suffice it to say, Monster is touting the Heartbeats' unique styling and "unprecedented level of audio performance."

All kidding aside, these Hearbeats do have a much more appealing design than the previous model, which featured a triangular, earring-like outer cover that people either loved or hated (I strongly suggest … Read more

Volvo knows who's inside the car

Technologies like the "DriveMaster Pro" may provide a ton of information about what's going on with a car's engine and emissions, but how about what's going on inside? Volvo has extended its reputation for road safety to the realm of personal security, developing a new technology that can detect if someone is hiding in a car.

Using a heartbeat sensor, the Volvo S80's "Personal Car Communicator" will flash its lights if there's "a murderous criminal hiding in the back seat," Popgadget says. The device is aimed at less sinister … Read more