How the number 3.14 is saving your heart
WHO: Assistant Professor Li Lei, Principal Investigator of the Digital Heart Lab at NUS.
WHAT: Using Pi and Fourier transforms to reconstruct MRI images and create personalised cardiac digital twins.
WHERE: National University of Singapore (NUS).
WHEN: 14 March 2026 (Pi Day).
WHY: To allow doctors to test treatments on a virtual heart before performing surgery on a real patient.
A brilliant breakthrough shows how NUS Asst Prof Li Lei models heart function with mathematical precision using the number Pi.
Most of us only think about Pi when we are struggling through a school maths exam or eyeing up a tasty pastry. But for scientists in Singapore, the number 3.14 is the secret ingredient to saving your life.
Every time you step into an MRI scanner, a mountain of complex maths is working behind the scenes to see inside your body. Now, that same math is being used to build a "digital double" of your own beating heart.
The magic of the digital twin
Assistant Professor Li Lei is not just looking at pictures; she is building virtual hearts. Her lab uses MRI data to create "cardiac digital twins" that move and pump exactly like the real thing.
This is a total game-changer for doctors. It allows them to simulate a disease or test out a surgery on a computer screen before they ever pick up a scalpel.
"Our goal is not for AI to replace mathematics," Asst Prof Li said. Her AI systems are designed to understand the "rules" of the human body, making them much more reliable than standard computers.
Why 3.14 is the lucky number
You might wonder what a circle has to do with your lungs or liver. In an MRI scan, the machine does not actually snap a photo; it records raw electromagnetic signals from your tissues.
To turn those signals into a clear image, the system uses something called a Fourier transform. Pi appears directly in these equations to map out where every signal is coming from in 3D space.
Testing the future of medicine
By treating the heart as a dynamic system, Li’s team can measure blood flow and tissue motion in real-time. This rigour makes the scans safer and much more repeatable for patients in the long run.
As imaging technology gets better, this mathematical backbone becomes even more critical. "Higher resolution imaging and more advanced AI all depend on having a reliable mathematical backbone," Li explained.
On Pi Day, it is a great reminder that simple maths is quietly powering the world’s most advanced healthcare. From signal capture to saving lives, the number 3.14 is working 24/7 to keep us ticking.
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OFFICIAL SOURCE VERIFICATION: This report is based on official data from National University of Singapore (NUS). Document: The π behind MRI: NUS Asst Prof Li Lei models heart function with mathematical precision Source Link: https://news.nus.edu.sg/pi-behind-mri/
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