Today in History; X-ray is discovered!!

November 8 1895 Roentgen William, 50 year old physics professor made a discovery that has well changed our human and medical history.

William discovered x-ray when he was conducting an experiment, exploring the path electrical rays passed from an induction coil through tubed glass covered with black cardboard. The first x-ray image was that he took of his wife's hand.

The x-ray came from the lab and jumped into widespread use. Roentgen received the first Nobel prize in physics in the year 1901 for the discovery of x-ray.
Before the discovery of x-ray, broken bones,tumors and bullets buried in flesh could be assessed only by doctors examination.
Now let me go into the importance of the x-ray, or rather what we can use x-ray for

BROKEN BONES- in contemporary hospitals and medical centres, we have the radiology department that utilize x-ray to take pictures of internal structures, mostly bones. A photographic film is placed at the back of the patient, then the x-ray is turned on. Rays pass through the body much faster than it does on bones, so on the film,the bones appear lighter. With these, damaged parts and extent of damage can be seen.

REVELATION OF COUNTERFEIT ARTWORK- the x-ray is used by artefacts dealers and art historians to tell when a fake pictures has been placed over or to replace an existing piece.

RADIATION THERAPY- we have all heard about chemotherapy and brachytherapy where x-ray radiation is used to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells . This is now essential to our survival and also keeping cancer in check.

AIRPORT SECURITY- At all airports we visit, we do luggage scans to reveal the contents of our luggage, to know if dangerous materials are being transported. This is x-ray technology. It has improved our security and also helped prevent potential crime.

I just try to imagine how our lives would have been if the x-ray was not invented.