November 8: Wilhelm Röntgen Discovers X-rays (1895)
Prayer Idea
Pray for radiologists who use X-rays and other imaging technology to help people who are sick or injured.
History Note
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (1845-1923) was a German physicist. While working as a professor, he researched a variety of scientific topics related to fluids, gases, and the properties of crystals.
On November 8, 1895, Röntgen noticed something while conducting an experiment. A cathode-ray tube gave off some form of unknown radiation that caused a screen of barium platinocyanide to give off light. He conducted further experiments to understand how the energy beams, which he called X-radiation, interacted with various substances.
After Röntgen published information about his discovery, doctors were using X-rays for medical imaging within weeks. Röntgen chose not to apply for a patent on his discovery, because he wanted the technology to be freely available to benefit everyone.
The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901. Wilhelm Röntgen received the first Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on X-ray technology. He donated his prize money to support research at his university.
This is one of the first images Röntgen created using X-rays. It is thought to be the hand of his wife, Anna, and shows her wedding ring. They were married for 47 years. Image courtesy the Wellcome Collection / CC BY-NC 4.0.
Learn More
See how X-rays work.
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