Final answer:
The first MRI machine began construction in 1976, with significant advancements from Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Contributions from Lauterbur and Mansfield in the field awarded them the 2003 Nobel Prize in Medicine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The construction of the first MRI machine began in the year 1976. This timeline aligns with the development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, which evolved from Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), an analytical tool formulated in 1946 by F. Bloch and E. Purcell. The advancements in NMR led to the development of MRI, a non-invasive imaging technology that uses magnetic fields to create detailed images of the structures within the body. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded in 2003 to Paul C. Lauterbur and Sir Peter Mansfield for their significant contributions to MRI technology, which transformed medical diagnostics and research.