As we look ahead to 2025, the field of radiology is poised to continue its evolution in both technology and its role in medicine. Radiology not only provides essential tools for diagnosing and treating various medical conditions but also intersects with areas such as popular culture and astronomy. This article explores intriguing facts about radiology that highlight its impact on society and its fascinating technological advancements.
X-rays in Popular Culture
With the introduction of X-ray technology, many people across the world became curious about how it works and its effects. By the 1900s, X-rays had quickly made a place in popular culture. Traveling fairs and carnivals utilized X-rays as a fascinating spectacle, allowing attendees to take home portraits (X-ray images) of their own hands.
While X-rays are now known for their medical research applications, early on, they were viewed as a magical and occult-like invention. Some were intrigued by the technology, while others found it horrifying. It wasn’t long before X-rays entered the media space; the 1937 comic book Spicy Mysteries depicted the first character to possess X-ray vision. Additionally, James Bond, the famous fictional spy, uses X-ray glasses in the film The World Is Not Enough (1999).
Over time, society has come to understand and accept X-rays as part of modern technology. Although they have lost the mysterious aura they once held, X-rays continue to captivate popular culture through characters like Superman, who retains the ability of X-ray vision in various modern depictions.
X-ray Emissions Occur Naturally in Space
To utilize X-rays, humans have meticulously created the technological environment needed to produce X-ray images. In basic terms, man-made X-ray machines generate charged particles with sufficient energy to emit X-rays. However, in space, X-ray emissions occur naturally.
Galaxy clusters, black holes, supernova remnants, stars, neutron stars, and binary stars are examples of natural sources that emit X-rays in space. These are categorized as astrophysical X-ray sources. The sun is hot enough to naturally produce X-rays; in addition, charged particles from solar storms can cause auroras to appear on Earth. When these naturally occurring charged particles interact with the Earth’s ionosphere, X-rays are created. As a result, auroras emit X-rays naturally, although these rays are absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere.
MRI Machines Must Be Kept at Zero Degrees to Work Correctly
MRI machines are an effective form of radiology that utilizes magnetism and radio waves instead of ionizing radiation. They require a magnetic field so strong that objects containing metal or emitting radio waves must not be near the machine. For the magnets used in MRI to be effective, technicians cool them with liquid hydrogen or helium to a temperature of zero degrees Kelvin. The magnets cannot exceed this temperature, as superconductivity is only achievable at low temperatures. When an MRI machine overheats, the images become distorted due to decreased magnetism. An MRI chiller is used to maintain the approximately zero-degree temperature, circulating water through coils within the MRI machine to ensure a stable, cool environment.
X-rays Were Discovered Accidentally
Creating X-rays requires precision in the environment, voltage, and dosage of radiation. Radiological engineers work tirelessly to establish the necessary conditions for X-ray production. Despite this, the original discovery of X-rays was accidental.
On November 8, 1895, Wilhelm Röntgen, a German physicist, became the first person to discover X-rays. The discovery was made while Röntgen studied the reactions that occurred when passing an electrical current through various vacuum tube devices. During his experiments, he noticed one of the devices produced a fluorescent effect when energized. Eager to investigate, Röntgen continued testing and observed a shimmering, glowing effect on a screen coated with a special chemical near the tube. This was peculiar, as the screen had not been in contact with the tube and was covered. It was then that Röntgen realized invisible rays were emanating from the tube. After passing these rays through his wife’s hand, he produced the very first X-ray image, which revealed her bones and wedding ring. Röntgen was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901 for his discovery of X-rays.
The ‘X’ in X-ray Stands for Unknown
Wilhelm Röntgen, the first person to create an X-ray image, named the rays he discovered “X-rays.” He chose this name because his understanding of the rays was limited. The letter ‘X’ served as an appropriate placeholder because in mathematics, ‘X’ is used to indicate a value that is unknown.
Since then, scientists have learned more about these rays but have continued to refer to them by their initial placeholder—X-rays. A more accurate description of X-rays, based on scientific findings, would be electromagnetic radiation. They can also be referred to as high-energy photons, which comprise X-rays. Additionally, the rays have been referred to as Röntgen rays in honor of Wilhelm Röntgen’s discovery.
Astronomers Use X-rays to Observe Space
Astronomy relies on electromagnetic radiation to study various natural phenomena within the cosmos. NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) is a space observatory specifically designed to investigate space using X-rays. X-ray technology enables astronomers to see into extremely hot areas of space, such as the sun and other high-energy regions. The discovery of X-rays has allowed scientists to view black holes, neutron stars, supernova remnants, and hot gasses in galaxy clusters. X-rays are key to expanding Earth’s knowledge of the universe and have been responsible for many major discoveries in space.
As radiology continues to evolve and its technologies advance, the significance of X-rays in both medicine and popular culture remains profound. From their accidental discovery to their applications in astronomy, X-rays have transformed our understanding of the universe and human health. As we look toward 2025, the ongoing advancements in radiological science promise to deepen our understanding of both the microcosm of human anatomy and the vastness of space.
