MRI uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body. It is a medical imaging technique that does not use ionizing radiation. The first MRI image was published in 1973 and showed two tubes of water. Modern MRI machines use magnetic fields of 1.5 Tesla or higher to align hydrogen protons in the body. Radio pulses then excite the protons, which emit radio signals as they relax back to their original alignment. The signals are detected by receivers in the machine and used to construct detailed images of tissues and organs.