Alexander Pines, Glenn T. Seaborg Professor of Chemistry and Faculty Affiliate, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, UC Berkeley

Title: Ups and downs of nuclear spins: Hyperactive NMR and MRI  (video)

Abstract: Contemporary NMR and MRI instruments are typically HUGE, immobile, hazardous and $$$.  I shall describe recent advances in our laboratory aimed at translating some of the capabilities of NMR and MRI onto mobile microfluidic chips. Components of the converging methodologies include spin hyperpolarization, sensitive detection by means of SQUIDs and laser atomic magnetometers, the development of functionalized NMR biosensors, and the implementation of NMR and MRI at zero to ultralow magnetic fields.