There
are a lot of different discoveries but I can say that the discovery of
X-ray was a great discovery of the 19th century. In 1875 Wilhelm Conrad
Roentgen discovered radiation called x-ray and investigated its
properties.There were made some discoveries about the properties of crystals and magnetism. Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen was the first recipient
of the Nobel Prize in physics, it was awarded to him in 1901 "in
recognition of extraordinary service to the important science, expressed
in the opening of the remarkable rays", later named after him.  Major
discovery in his life - the X-radiation (later called X-ray), Wilhelm
Conrad Roentgen made when he was 50 years old. As the director of the
Physics Section of the University of Wurzburg he used to stay up late
in the lab and when he went home, X-ray continued to work.
As
usual, once he turned on the current in the cathode tube, he sealed on
all sides with black paper. Platinum cyanide crystals of barium lying
nearby began to glow with green light. The scientist turned off the
current and the glow of crystals ceased. When he re-applied a voltage to
the cathode tube the glow in crystals resumed.
In
the result of further research the scientist came to the conclusion
that unknown radiation came out of the tube, which he called X-rays.
At
that moment the world got a great discovery. Roentgen's experiments
showed that the X-rays are produced in the collision of cathode rays
with a barrier inside the cathode tube.
For
his research the scientist invented a special tube design, in which
anode was flat, that provided intensification stream X-rays. Through
this tube he studied and described the basic properties of an unknown
radiation which was called "X".
X-
rays were used to take first pictures. They are widely used nowadays
too. Their most important appliance even nowadays is to help doctors to
diagnosticate different serious diseases. The discovery of X-rays is the
discovery that is worth appreciating. Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen certainly
took his part in the history of mankind.
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