Who discovered X-rays?

Who discovered X-rays?

• A. Marie Curie
• B. Louis Pasteur
• C. Thomas Edison
• D. Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen

Answer: (D)

The discovery of X-rays came from Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen, who, in 1895, was working with a Crookes tube and observing a fluorescent screen that glowed even when the tube was shielded from visible light. He realized unseen rays were traveling from the tube, passing through matter, and exposing a photographic plate to create images—first of a hand, then other objects. He named these unknown rays “X-rays” and published his findings, which started the field of radiology. Marie Curie is known for uncovering radioactivity and discovering polonium and radium, not for discovering X-rays. Louis Pasteur contributed to germ theory and pasteurization. Thomas Edison did early work related to X-ray tubes and safety, but the actual discovery of X-rays is Roentgen’s.

The discovery of X-rays came from Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen, who, in 1895, was working with a Crookes tube and observing a fluorescent screen that glowed even when the tube was shielded from visible light. He realized unseen rays were traveling from the tube, passing through matter, and exposing a photographic plate to create images—first of a hand, then other objects. He named these unknown rays “X-rays” and published his findings, which started the field of radiology.

Marie Curie is known for uncovering radioactivity and discovering polonium and radium, not for discovering X-rays. Louis Pasteur contributed to germ theory and pasteurization. Thomas Edison did early work related to X-ray tubes and safety, but the actual discovery of X-rays is Roentgen’s.