Who is credited with the discovery of x-rays?

The discovery of x-rays is credited to Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen, a German physicist who made this groundbreaking revelation in 1895. Roentgen observed that when an electrical discharge was passed through a vacuum tube, it produced a type of radiation that could pass through solid objects and create images on photographic plates. This discovery laid the foundation for medical imaging and revolutionized diagnostic medicine, allowing for non-invasive visualization of bones and internal structures.

Roentgen's work was monumental not only in the field of radiology but also in various scientific disciplines, as it changed the understanding of radiation and its applications in medicine. His contributions were so significant that he was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901. The impact of x-rays continues to be felt in modern medical practices, making his discovery one of the most important milestones in healthcare history.