How many bones have you broken in your lifetime? If the answer is zero, consider yourself lucky, as millions of people end up in an emergency room every year with some sort of fracture. Even if you’ve never suffered a break, there’s a good chance you’ve had an injury that required an X-ray to check the damage. And, of course, you’ve probably had your teeth X-rayed at the dentist. While getting an X-ray is a pretty routine endeavor these days, this medical marvel is actually relatively new. It was also discovered entirely accidentally. 

A very happy accident

In 1895 – on November 8, to be exact – scientist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen was working with cathode rays in his lab in Wurzburg, Germany, when he made his fateful discovery. Testing whether the rays could pass through glass, he noticed a glow coming from a fluorescent screen. Through experiments, he found that this light could pass through different substances and leave shadows. Because of their unknown nature, he called them X-rays. 

It wasn’t long before Röntgen realized that these X-rays could pass through human tissue to reveal the bones underneath. One of the first X-ray photographs he took was of his wife’s wedding ring and the bones in her hand. 

How do X-rays work?

While most of us take X-rays for granted, the science behind them is quite fascinating. They are electromagnetic energy waves that, while similar to light rays, have wavelengths that are about 1,000 times shorter. An X-ray is produced when electrons are released when a negatively charged electrode is heated by electricity. When that energy gets directed at a metal plate, it collides with the atoms in the place, thus generating an X-ray.

The x-ray takes the world by storm

News of Röntgen’s discovery spread very quickly. Doctors marveled at the fact that they could see inside the body without needing to perform surgery. Within a year, physicians all over Europe and America began using X-rays for a variety of things, including diagnosing bone fractures and finding swallowed objects. In 1897, X-rays were used in the Balkan War to locate bullets and broken bones inside soldiers. In 1901, Röntgen received the Nobel Prize in physics. In addition to his life-changing discovery, Röntgen did something else that helped the world: He didn’t seek a patent. This meant that it could be used freely by anyone. 

The downside of X-rays is revealed

As we all know now, X-rays use radiation. And while small doses are considered safe, high levels can be extremely dangerous. Originally it was thought that X-rays passed through the skin as harmlessly as light. But, within a few years of their usage, reports began surfacing of cases of skin damage and burns. In 1904, Clarence Dally, an assistant of Thomas Edison and someone who had worked with X-rays extensively, died of skin cancer. Although Dally’s death resulted in scientists thinking about the risks of radiation, this didn’t curb their usage. In addition to Edison, both Nikola Tesla and William J. Morton expressed concerns about radiation. 

An odd use for X-rays

To further prove people’s ignorance (willful or otherwise) when it came to X-rays, shoe stores in the 1930s actually began using them. With shoe-fitting fluoroscopes, customers could see the bones in the feet to ensure they got shoes with the proper fit. Amazingly, this practice went on into the 1950s but was ultimately ended when it was finally determined that the risk of radiation was too high. That and the fact that few – if any – shoe salespeople had any formal training with X-rays. 

The evolution of the X-ray

For the most part, the X-ray hasn’t changed very much over the last century. However, a recent development could be revolutionary. Researchers at MIT recently created a patch-like device that allows organs and tissues to be monitored without needing any type of radiation. This stamp-sized sticker will make ultrasounds incredibly fast and easy. 

During tests, volunteers wore them on their chests, necks, and abdomens for 48 hours. During that time, clear images of their muscles, organs, and blood vessels were produced. In addition to being highly beneficial to doctors, this invention could also allow people to better monitor and manage their health. 

Did you know anything about the history of the X-ray? Can you think of anything else this revolutionary that was discovered by accident?