Röntgen's experiments

In the1890s, Wilhelm Röntgen discovered X-rays while experimenting with cathode rays in vacuum tubes. He noticed a glow on nearby photographic plates, even without direct contact, suggesting a new form of radiation. Röntgen further demonstrated that these rays could pass through soft tissue but not bones or dense materials, producing images called X-ray images. His experiments revealed these rays’ penetrating ability and their potential for medical imaging, fundamentally changing diagnosis and advancing physics. Röntgen’s work earned him the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901, recognizing his discovery’s profound scientific and practical impact.