Researchers have developed cutting-edge MRI technology to diagnose a common heart problem more quickly and accurately than ever before.

Aortic stenosis is a progressive and potentially fatal condition, affecting about five per cent of 65-year-olds in the US - with increasing prevalence in advancing age. 

Symptoms include chest pains, a rapid fluttering heartbeat and feeling dizzy, short of breath and fatigued – particularly with activity.

The new study reveals how a four-dimensional flow (4D flow) MRI scan can diagnose aortic stenosis more reliably than current ultrasound techniques.

The superior accuracy of the new test means doctors can better predict when patients will require surgery. 

To help reduce the United States’ reliance on foreign sources of critical materials, the U.S. Department of Energy is investing $17 million into 14 projects focused on strengthening the domestic supply chain through safe, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions. Among the selected projects is a collaboration led by Texas A&M University researchers who are developing a new way to pull rare earth elements out of old electronics like tablets, phones and circuit boards.