This page lists items in the database related to German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen (born 27 March 1845 in Lennep – now part of the city of Remscheid – Germany; died 10 February 1923 in Munich, Germany).
- Belgian Museum of Radiology in Brussels with its neuroradiology section in Ghent
- Late 19th century Crookes Tube in The Science and Art of Medicine gallery of the Science Museum, London
- Rontgen statue (by Louis Linck) in the International Museum of Surgical Science in Chicago
- The Röntgen Memorial in Würzburg with:
- Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen bas-relief in the Radiological Pavilion of the old “Ospedale Principessa di Piemonte” in Bergamo
Röntgen, who discovered x-radiation, was educated in Zürich. He subsequently held professorships in Strasbourg, Geißen (Hesse) and Würzburg, where he undertook experimental work in fields such as electricity and fluorescence, paving the way for his scientific breakthrough. It was in Würzburg on 8 November 1895, while carrying out studies involving cathode rays in a darkened room, that Röntgen first noticed a previously unseen type of radiation that was able to penetrate solid matter, allowing its internal structure to be visualised. His discovery rapidly gained global recognition. A new medical speciality called radiology was born, and X-ray imaging soon became a vital component of both diagnostic and surgical medicine. Röntgen was awarded the first Nobel Prize for Physics in 1901. Known for his diligence, ethics and modesty, Röntgen never patented his discovery, arguing that science should serve humanity rather than financial gain. After teaching at the Institute of Physics in Munich until 1920, he retired from academic life, and lived in Munich until his death. He is buried in the Old Cemetery (Alter Friedhof) in Geißen.
Bibliography
– G.Cosmacini, Röntgen, Rizzoli, Milano 1984