A multinational collaborative effort has led to the discovery of a new laser-based diamond sensor that can measure magnetic fields up to 10 times better than what instruments do today, a university press release said.

Magnetic field measurements are used widely in the field of medicine today. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which combines the use of a magnet and radio waves to look at organs and structures inside the body, has become a significant tool for examining the brain and spinal cord and looking for early signs of diseases.