Heroes and Cultural Identity Project

SCE Heroes - Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen

Roentgen : discoverer of X-rays

I truly believe Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen is a Hero of Science.

Roentgen was born in 1845, at Lennep in the Lower Rhine Province of Germany. He became a pioneer of the study of X-rays. X-rays have had a massive influence on society and as a result it's hard to imagine a world without this lifesaving discovery.

The x-ray has many medical applications, for example,

• The chest x-ray which is used to identify lung diseases such as pneumonia, lung cancer or pulmonary cancer,
  
  
• The abdominal x-ray which can detect blockage of the intestines and a build up of air or fluid,
  
  
• The skeletal x-ray, used to identify fractures and breakages of the bone,
  
  
• And of course, radiotherapy used to treat cancerous tumours.
  

The x-ray is not only used in medical capacity, but also in airports by Customs and Excise for scanning luggage, by astronomers to study the emissions from celestial objects and also in paintings to reveal the under drawing or alterations made in the course of painting.

The x-ray has become an invaluable tool in medicine, which has lead not only to the detection, but also the treatment of many serious illnesses. If this is not enough, it also applies itself to other scientific endeavours from the detection of illegal objects in luggage, to authenticating works of art. X-rays have had a massive influence on society and as a result it's hard to imagine a world without this lifesaving discovery. This is why I truly believe Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen is a Hero of Science.

Christina Pacitti is a science student following a one year university access course in biological sciences.