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If you haven't ever read about how MRIs work, you should. I first learned how MRIs work in college while studying biochemistry. The same technology is used in

by n8agrin 17y ago

If you haven't ever read about how MRIs work, you should. I first learned how MRIs work in college while studying biochemistry. The same technology is used in that field, but called NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance). It is the only medical technology that still blows me away when I sit down and think about it. The people who realized they could use it to take cross-sectional scans of peoples bodies without any invasive procedure are true geniuses. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_resonance_imaging http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_resonance_imaging

arohner 17y ago
"Just lay down on that table, and hold still while we orient the polarization of all the water in your head. It'll be just fine." CTs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_computed_tomography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_computed_tomography) and PETs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positron_Emission_Tomography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positron_Emission_Tomography) are pretty cool as well. CTs use essentially an X-ray beam that travels in a helical path around your body, and then use math to construct a 3D image, PET is the one where you drink an isotope, and they "catch" the positrons emitted from the radioactive material in your body.
messel 17y ago
Heh, I did an NMR experiment in senior lab back in school (1995 senior lab) and had forgotten that this is precisely how MRI works (the resonance should have given it away). I wish I had my old lab book (only had a paper copy) to review the experiment now, it's fogging out big time from my memory.
- n8agrin 17y ago
  Not sure if it's true, but my prof in college told us that the reason the name was changed was because of the negative connotation of the word "nuclear". Otherwise it's exactly the same technology as NMR.
  - gcheong 17y ago
    I heard that as well from a couple profs of mine, doesn't mean it's true but it sounds reasonable.

by n8agrin 17y ago

arohner 17y ago

"Just lay down on that table, and hold still while we orient the polarization of all the water in your head. It'll be just fine." CTs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_computed_tomography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_computed_tomography) and PETs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positron_Emission_Tomography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positron_Emission_Tomography) are pretty cool as well. CTs use essentially an X-ray beam that travels in a helical path around your body, and then use math to construct a 3D image, PET is the one where you drink an isotope, and they "catch" the positrons emitted from the radioactive material in your body.

messel 17y ago

Heh, I did an NMR experiment in senior lab back in school (1995 senior lab) and had forgotten that this is precisely how MRI works (the resonance should have given it away). I wish I had my old lab book (only had a paper copy) to review the experiment now, it's fogging out big time from my memory.

n8agrin 17y ago
Not sure if it's true, but my prof in college told us that the reason the name was changed was because of the negative connotation of the word "nuclear". Otherwise it's exactly the same technology as NMR.
- gcheong 17y ago
  I heard that as well from a couple profs of mine, doesn't mean it's true but it sounds reasonable.