Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (1845–1923) was a German physicist who discovered X-rays in 1895, leading to a revolution in medical imaging and earning him the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901. While experimenting with cathode rays, he noticed a fluorescent glow produced by a screen placed at a distance from his apparatus. Further investigation revealed that these rays could penetrate solid objects and produce images on photographic plates. Röntgen named them “X-rays” due to their unknown nature. His discovery enabled non-invasive imaging of the human body, transforming medical diagnosis and treatment. X-ray technology has since found widespread applications in various fields, including medicine, industry, and scientific research. Röntgen’s pioneering work continues to have a profound impact on society, marking him as one of the most influential figures in the history of physics and medicine.

Wilhelm Röntgen Quotes

1. “There is much to do, and I am busy, very busy.”
— Wilhelm Röntgen

2. “I did not think; I experimented.”
— Wilhelm Röntgen

3. “Great discoveries are made accidentally less often than the populace likes to think.”
— Wilhelm Röntgen