An NMR spectrometer can reveal molecular structure down to the atomic level, but weak signals limit what it can see. Now, Aarhus University researchers have used AI to let the spectrometer learn the best pulse sequence directly from the sample.

Imagine trying to shepherd a group of sugar-fueled children through an amusement park. You cannot work out in advance exactly which combination of words, tone of voice, timing and body language will keep everyone moving in the right direction. The children react differently, they influence one another, and the larger the group, the harder it becomes to predict what will work.

At some point, the best strategy is simply to try something, see what happens and adjust.