How do MRIs see inside our bodies, in 3D? (with Claire Caballero)

Chemistry For Your Life · Feb 27, 2026 · 1h 9m

MRIs are loud. They’re huge. They’re magnetic. But what are they actually doing? This week, we bring Claire back to help us connect the dots between NMR (yes, organic chem flashbacks) and MRI. How does a technique built on tiny hydrogen protons turn into a 3D image of your brain? How can it tell the difference between tissue and fluid? Why can’t you bring metal anywhere near the machine?

We ask:

• What are your protons doing inside an MRI?

• How does “magnetic resonance” become an image?

• Why does oxygenated blood matter?

• And how did anyone figure this out in the first place?

If you’ve…