Scientists have developed the world's strongest iron-based superconducting magnet using AI, in what could be a breakthrough for affordable MRI machines and the future of electrified transport.

Superconducting magnets are capable of producing very strong, stable magnetic fields without the need for large amounts of power. This means they can be used in a range of technologies, including MRI machines that require a strong magnetic field to produce clear 3D images of soft tissue. They can also be used in the next generation of transport, including the SCMaglev train system in Japan.

However, the superconductors currently used are primarily in the form of large coils of superconducting niobium-tin alloy wire. Devices using them need to accommodate this size, which can limit their application.

In a paper, published in NPG Asia Materials, researchers from King's College London and Japan have fabricated a cheap and powerful iron-based using machine learning (ML), paving the way for widespread and affordable use of the technology.

To read more, click here.