The Experiment
In 1895, Roentgen was studying the passage of electric current through a gas of extremely low pressure. He was repeating previous experiments by well known scientists, when he came across something extraordinary.
Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered x-rays while experimenting with barium platinocyanide, cathode rays, and a Crookes tube. He noticed an illuminated barium platinocyanide screen in his laboratory as he generated cathode rays in a Crookes tube, which was covered in black paper. Cathode rays emit electron radiation streams and can cause certain substances to glow. Crookes tubes are a vacuum, meaning they have no air inside. Roentgen realized that the tube emitted a light, even though it was covered in black paper. He recognized that whatever rays were being excreted from his device, were powerful enough to travel through the paper. |
Once Roentgen released his experiments with x-rays, scientists suggested that instead of discovering a new ray, Roentgen had rediscovered cathode rays. However, cathode rays are generated in glass, but x-rays are obtained in an aluminum container. Scientists also compared x-rays to ultra-violet lights. However, x-rays are not refracted, reflected, or polarized, like ultra-violet light. They are both of the same electromagnetic nature, but x-rays have a higher frequency in their vibrations. Roentgen continued to study these new rays for 6 weeks before publishing his work on December 28, 1895, in a paper called "On a New Kind of Rays." Only a few days after, doctor's began using his technology to internally diagnose patients.
The video above, filmed in 2009, shows the movement of food in the human body, by using x-ray technology. The video shows how Roentgen's technology is used in present day.