Signals from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be substantially enhanced by 'hyperpolarizing' nuclear spins.

Nuclear magnetic resonance and MRI rely on powerful magnets to align the nuclear spins of protons in atoms, which then emit radio signals on returning to their normal states. These signals can be recorded to produce images or provide information on chemical composition.

Neal Kalechofsky at Millikelvin Technologies in Braintree, Massachusetts, James Kempf at Bruker Biospin Corporation in Billerica, Massachusetts, and their colleagues at these lab-equipment companies demonstrate a way to boost signals from an isotope of carbon used in medical imaging by around 1,600-fold. Their 'brute-force' approach uses low temperatures and high magnetic fields to align the spins of more atoms in a sample at 2.3 kelvin and 14 tesla than is usually possible for MRI. Samples are then ejected from the low-temperature environment, dissolved and finally transferred for imaging at room temperature and 1 tesla, providing better signals.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. http://doi.org/5x8 (2015)