⏰ when

When Was the First X-Ray Image Taken?

sciencemedicine

Quick Answer

Wilhelm Röntgen took the first X-ray image on 8 November 1895.

The Full Story

On 8 November 1895, German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen accidentally discovered X-rays while experimenting with cathode rays in his laboratory at the University of Würzburg. He soon produced a radiograph of his wife Anna Bertha's hand, clearly showing her bones and wedding ring. The discovery revolutionised medicine and earned Röntgen the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901. Today X-rays remain one of the most widely used diagnostic tools in healthcare.

Key Facts

1.Röntgen called them "X-rays" because their nature was unknown.
2.The famous hand image was of his wife Anna Bertha, who reportedly said, "I have seen my death."
3.Röntgen donated his Nobel Prize money to his university and refused to patent X-ray technology.

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"Seeing Through Skin — Röntgen's Accidental Discovery of X-Rays"