Magnet makes life science research visible at the Swedish NMR centre

Published

22 June 2022

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Outside the Swedish NMR Centre, at the Hasselblad laboratory on Medicinareberget, a large magnet has recently been set up. It was one of the world's first 900 MHz magnets and has previously been used at the Swedish NMR Centre between 2004 and 2018.

It has mainly been used for studies of protein structure, interaction, dynamics and function, but also for special applications in metabolomics, materials and pharmaceutical research

It contributed to world-leading research and was also the hub of the national and international research infrastructure. It was damaged in connection with a quench in 2018 and was replaced in 2021 by a similar magnet with an even more sensitive detector.

Almost all NMR magnets look like tin cans, but this magnet is an exception. It has a look reminiscent of a lunar lander and is a unique example of successful industrial design, which has now become a symbol of the activities at the NMR centre.

Göran Karlsson, director of the Swedish NMR Centre:
- The magnet exemplifies the need for technically advanced instrumentation in life science research and at the same time makes visible the activities at the Swedish NMR center. We wanted to keep it and both Akademiska Hus and GU's real estate department liked the idea of displaying it on the outside. And, to anyone who might be wondering, it is not "magnetic", says Göran.

Text: Helen Easterling

Area

Science and Information

Technology