THE DISCOVERY OF X-RAYS

On a chilly day in 1895 the German scientist Wilgelm Roentgen was carrying out an
experiment with the cathode ray discharge tube in his laboratory.He felt that a piece of paper
,which was lying a few feet away from the discharge tube and on which was coated berium
blentino cyanide ,was shining in the dark.This incident of fluorescence was also noted earlier
by J.J Thomson and many other eminent physicists but they did not feel it important enough
for a detailed study.As they ignorant of the nature of these rays so they named them as x-
rays.These new rays seemed to be emitted by the anode of the discharge tube and differed
from the cathode rays in the fact that they could penetrate up to 2-metre in the air out side
the tube, where as the cathode rays were cofined to the discharge tube only.When Roentgen
discovered the opaque of other substances to x-rays he found that these rays could pierce
one-milimetre thick piece of lead.Roentgen made a number of accurate observations about
these rays.For example,a\c to him,wavelength of these rays should be shorter the light rays
like electromagnetic radiation because these rays remain unaffected from the magnetic
field.Roentgen himself called these rays as x-rays.

Some scientific discoveries become apractically useful after many year long research.But x-
rayswere used just two months after their discovery when they were used to diagonce a
fracture &its treatment in the New Hampshire Hospital.The utility of these rays is recognized
the world over.X-Rays &their byproducts became a cultural phenomenon,even a affecting
the arena of politics.The x-rays was more than just a medical &scientific revolution ;it
created its own genere of movies,art and literature.Whether trough stories,print media,or the
simple idea of seeing the hidden,the x-ray heavily influenced the shaping and creation of the
20th century culture.
The x-rays has come a long way from its origins in a small, dark german laboratory.At its
invention,the future of the then-unknown phenomenon was uncertain; even the mechanics
behind the creation of the new rays were unknown to even the world”s leading scientist.
However,this did not stop the public from using the x-rays for their personal gain.Many
commercial entertainment ventures were launched that capitalized on the intial craze.
From these ventures grew legitainment medical applications and practices , along with a
new x-ray industry .Hospitals ,clinics ,and private clinics became the centre for the first
functional, wide spread medical advancement in years.
ABOUT SCIENTIST:
The x-ray of Mrs.Roentgen’s hand that began the world –wide “x-ray craze”.After a month
of experimentation ,professor Wilhelm Roentgen was ready to show his new discovery to
the world.

In the middle of the night in December of 1895, he brought his wife to his ladoratory to show
her exactly what had occupied his time for the past few weeks.Mrs.Roentgen placed her
hand upon a photographic plate and waited while her husband turned on a machine aimed
directly at her hand.Several minutes later,professor Roentgen developed the plate and
showed her the result.She explained ,”Oh my God…It makes me some how feel that I’m
looking at my own death!”

Her reaction was a common one as the news of the revolutionary x-ray spread across the
world.Fear and panic gripped many ;however , curiosity and excitement also filled the
air.This new discovery had unlimited potential in both the medical and entertainment
community,changing almost every aspect of society touched.This website explores the many
aspect of the x-ray,from its origin to its current uses and reincarnations ,along with the many
lives ,ideas and practices it helped inspire.