Wilhelm Roentgen, German physicist, 1906

Wilhelm Roentgen, German physicist, 1906. Photogravure after a photograph taken by Nicola Perscheid in 1906, ofthe German physicist Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen (1845-1923). Originally an engineering student at Zurich Polytechnic, Roentgen turned to physics becoming Professor of Physics at Strasbourg, Giessen, Wurzburg and Munich Universities. On 8 November 1895 he discovered X-rays - the 'X' signified their unknown origin. X-rays travelled in a straight-line and passed through card, but could be detected by a photographic plate or fluorescent screen. Later, he found that they were able to pass through flesh and take photographic images of bones inside the body. In 1901, he was the first recipient of the Nobel Prize for Physics. Published by Photographische Gesellschaft, Berlin, c 1910. Dimensions: 460mm x 340mm. ©SSPL/Science Museum