World Radiography Day
The art of revealing hidden truths through the lens of science, a noble pursuit that unveils the mysteries within the human form.
Position your medical imaging or healthcare technology solutions as advancing diagnostic innovation on the day that celebrates the accidental discovery that revolutionized modern medicine.
- From accidental discovery to lifesaving technology: how X-rays transformed healthcare
- Behind the glow: the science and innovation powering modern diagnostic imaging
- Celebrating 130+ years of X-ray breakthroughs—and the future of medical imaging
- Wilhelm's 'unknown' became medicine's greatest tool—here's what's next
The X-Ray was discovered by accident, as part of an experiment where Wilhelm was attempting to ascertain whether or cathode rays could pass through glass. Nearby there was a chemically coated screen, and from it was emanating an odd glow, and dubbed the rays causing that glow X-Rays. Why you ask? Because he didn’t know what they were, so the ubiquitous ‘X for unknown’ was utilized. They’ve been called X-Rays ever since.
So what are x-rays really? They’re energy waves of electromagnetism that act in much the same way light rays do, but with an incredibly short wavelength. 1,000 times shorter than those of light to be precise. Once he discovered them, he began experimenting extensively with them, determining what they could and couldn’t pass through, and how they could be photographed. It was through this that he discovered that lead absorbed it almost completely, and human bone would stop it, creating a new and innovative way to see what was going on inside the human body.
X-Rays were used extensively during the Balkan War to locate shrapnel, bullets, and broken bones in soldiers in the field. X-Rays were used extensively in things like shoe-fittings until it became apparent that it wasn’t all fun and games. Now they’re used for things like security at airports, material analysis, and more, but with much more attention to safety.