Wilhelm Röntgen Autograph

Profession:
(1845-1923) German physicist who produced and detected electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range known as X-rays. As a result of this discovery, he became the first recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901

Year of Birth: 1845

Wilhelm Röntgen was a German physicist who is best known for his discovery of X-rays in 1895. Born on March 27, 1845 in Lennep, Prussia, Röntgen studied mechanical engineering at the Federal Polytechnic Institute in Zurich and then went on to study physics at the University of Zurich.

After completing his education, Röntgen worked at several different universities in Germany before becoming a professor of physics at the University of Würzburg. It was during his time at Würzburg that Röntgen made his groundbreaking discovery of X-rays.

By accident, Röntgen discovered that a cathode-ray tube in his laboratory was emitting a mysterious ray that could pass through solid objects. He called these rays "X-rays" and began studying their properties and possible uses.

Röntgen's discovery of X-rays revolutionized the field of medicine, allowing doctors to see inside the human body without invasive procedures. For this groundbreaking work, Röntgen was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.

Throughout his career, Röntgen continued to make significant contributions to the field of physics, conducting research on a wide range of topics including the behavior of gases and the properties of crystals. He died on February 10, 1923 in Munich, Germany, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the world of science.

Today, Wilhelm Röntgen is remembered as a pioneer in the field of physics whose discovery of X-rays has had a profound impact on the world of medicine and technology.