On November 8th, 1895, X-rays were discovered, and medicine entered a new age. Thanks to this discovery, radiographic imaging and therapy were born—a field that would play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases.

Thanks to the discovery of X-rays and an understanding of how they work, scans can be done using a lower dose of radiation, which improves the quality of patient care. It is for these reasons why the 8th of November was designated as World Radiographer Day. On this day, we remember the anniversary of this discovery and the birth of the radiology field.

The History of World Radiography Day

In 1895, Professor Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen of Wuerzburg University in Germany accidentally discovered X-rays. He was working on a cathode ray tube in his lab when he noticed a fluorescent glow of crystals on a table near his project.

When the air was removed from the tube and a high voltage was applied, the tube began to emit a fluorescent glow. He noticed that if he shielded the tube with black paper, a material he placed a few feet away would generate a green fluorescent light.

Röntgen’s experiments would prove that the tube was emitting a new type of ray that was passing through the paper and exciting phosphorescent materials. He soon realized these rays could pass through other objects as well, including human tissues.

Of course, his experiments also showed that these rays couldn’t pass through bone or metal. Regardless, his discovery led to the use of X-rays for medical diagnosis and treatment.

Fun Facts About Radiography

You don’t need X-rays to take a deeper look at radiography. All you need is a curiosity to learn more about the subject. That’s why we’ve decided to take some time out of this article to list some of the facts that we’ve learned about X-rays and radiography. Anyone interested in this subject might want to check out the following bullet points.

• X-rays helped scientists in the 1950s see the double-helix structure of DNA.
• X-rays are used to treat some forms of cancer. This is called radiotherapy.
• Professor Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen X-rayed his wife’s hand, showing her hand’s bones and wedding ring.
• When Röntgen’s wife saw the image of her hand, she exclaimed, “I have seen my death!”
• Edison tried to create an X-ray light bulb but canceled the project after team members succumbed to radiation exposure.

Observing World Radiography Day

On this day, people can learn more about X-rays and the role they play in radiography. They can also take the time to learn more about Professor Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen. And, as usual, people can spread the word about this holiday by using the hashtag #WorldRadiographyDay on social media.