How X-Ray Machines Were Built

An illustrated inventions story from Wonder Inventions — free to read, with narration.

How X-Ray Machines Were Built — an illustrated inventions story, set in Germany. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

How X-Ray Machines Were Built — book cover — Wonder Inventions
How X-Ray Machines Were Built — an illustrated inventions story, set in Germany. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

Page 1

Sora sat on her porch swing, watching the trains rumble past. Her grandpa, Santiago, sat beside her, humming a tune. "Grandpa," she asked, "how do doctors see…
Sora sat on her porch swing, watching the trains rumble past. Her grandpa, Santiago, sat beside her, humming a tune. "Grandpa," she asked, "how do doctors see inside people?" Santiago chuckled, pointing to his coffee mug. "Well, Sora, it involves something called X-rays. I wonder who first figured out how to make those?"

Sora sat on her porch swing, watching the trains rumble past. Her grandpa, Santiago, sat beside her, humming a tune. "Grandpa," she asked, "how do doctors see inside people?" Santiago chuckled, pointing to his coffee mug. "Well, Sora, it involves something called X-rays. I wonder who first figured out how to make those?"

Page 2

Sora leaped up, her eyes wide with curiosity. "My invention encyclopedia will know!" She dashed inside to her room, where a large, leather-bound book sat…
Sora leaped up, her eyes wide with curiosity. "My invention encyclopedia will know!" She dashed inside to her room, where a large, leather-bound book sat glowing faintly on her bookshelf. As Sora reached for it, the room shimmered and the walls seemed to melt away. "Here we go!" she exclaimed, a mix of excitement and slight nervousness in her voice.

Sora leaped up, her eyes wide with curiosity. "My invention encyclopedia will know!" She dashed inside to her room, where a large, leather-bound book sat glowing faintly on her bookshelf. As Sora reached for it, the room shimmered and the walls seemed to melt away. "Here we go!" she exclaimed, a mix of excitement and slight nervousness in her voice.

Page 3

The world spun, and Sora found herself in a dimly lit laboratory. Strange glass contraptions bubbled, and wires snaked across the floor.
The world spun, and Sora found herself in a dimly lit laboratory. Strange glass contraptions bubbled, and wires snaked across the floor. A woman in a long dress peered intently at a glowing screen. The woman looked up when she heard Sora. "Hello there!" the woman exclaimed. "As Leonardo da Vinci said: 'Principles for the Development of a Complete Mind: Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses- especially learn how to see.

The world spun, and Sora found herself in a dimly lit laboratory. Strange glass contraptions bubbled, and wires snaked across the floor. A woman in a long dress peered intently at a glowing screen. The woman looked up when she heard Sora. "Hello there!" the woman exclaimed. "As Leonardo da Vinci said: 'Principles for the Development of a Complete Mind: Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses- especially learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else,' and that's exactly what I'm doing!"

Page 4

"Who are you? Where am I?" Sora asked, bewildered. The woman smiled kindly. "My name is Anna Bertha Roentgen, and you're in my lab in Würzburg, Germany, in…
"Who are you? Where am I?" Sora asked, bewildered. The woman smiled kindly. "My name is Anna Bertha Roentgen, and you're in my lab in Würzburg, Germany, in 1895. I'm working with my husband, Wilhelm, on some very interesting experiments!" Anna gestured to a strange-looking tube. "He is the head of the Physics Institute here, you see."

"Who are you? Where am I?" Sora asked, bewildered. The woman smiled kindly. "My name is Anna Bertha Roentgen, and you're in my lab in Würzburg, Germany, in 1895. I'm working with my husband, Wilhelm, on some very interesting experiments!" Anna gestured to a strange-looking tube. "He is the head of the Physics Institute here, you see."

Page 5

"Wilhelm was experimenting with this Crookes tube when he noticed something odd," Anna explained. "Even when he covered the tube with black cardboard, a screen…
"Wilhelm was experimenting with this Crookes tube when he noticed something odd," Anna explained. "Even when he covered the tube with black cardboard, a screen nearby still glowed!" Sora gasped. "What was causing the glow?" she wondered. Anna replied, "Wilhelm called them X-rays, because they were unknown. He didn't know what they were!"

"Wilhelm was experimenting with this Crookes tube when he noticed something odd," Anna explained. "Even when he covered the tube with black cardboard, a screen nearby still glowed!" Sora gasped. "What was causing the glow?" she wondered. Anna replied, "Wilhelm called them X-rays, because they were unknown. He didn't know what they were!"

Page 6

"He spent weeks in the lab, studying these mysterious rays," Anna continued. "He found they could pass through many things, but not everything.
"He spent weeks in the lab, studying these mysterious rays," Anna continued. "He found they could pass through many things, but not everything. Then, on December 22, 1895, he asked me to come into the lab." Anna paused, a twinkle in her eye. "He asked me to place my hand between the tube and a photographic plate."

"He spent weeks in the lab, studying these mysterious rays," Anna continued. "He found they could pass through many things, but not everything. Then, on December 22, 1895, he asked me to come into the lab." Anna paused, a twinkle in her eye. "He asked me to place my hand between the tube and a photographic plate."

Page 7

"After a few minutes, Wilhelm developed the plate," Anna said, her voice filled with wonder. "And there it was – the first X-ray image of a human skeleton!"…
"After a few minutes, Wilhelm developed the plate," Anna said, her voice filled with wonder. "And there it was – the first X-ray image of a human skeleton!" Sora gasped. "Your bones!" Anna nodded. "It was a revolutionary moment. In 1901, Wilhelm received the very first Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery." Sora was amazed, "The world was able to learn so much more about the human body just from that?"

"After a few minutes, Wilhelm developed the plate," Anna said, her voice filled with wonder. "And there it was – the first X-ray image of a human skeleton!" Sora gasped. "Your bones!" Anna nodded. "It was a revolutionary moment. In 1901, Wilhelm received the very first Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery." Sora was amazed, "The world was able to learn so much more about the human body just from that?"

Page 8

"X-rays quickly changed medicine," Anna explained. "Doctors could see broken bones without surgery. Industries used them to find flaws in metal.
"X-rays quickly changed medicine," Anna explained. "Doctors could see broken bones without surgery. Industries used them to find flaws in metal. It helped so much!" Sora glanced at her notebook, remembering what she had read about fluoroscopes that day before entering the portal. "But I also read that it took a long time to create safer versions of x-ray machines!" she remarked.

"X-rays quickly changed medicine," Anna explained. "Doctors could see broken bones without surgery. Industries used them to find flaws in metal. It helped so much!" Sora glanced at her notebook, remembering what she had read about fluoroscopes that day before entering the portal. "But I also read that it took a long time to create safer versions of x-ray machines!" she remarked. "Yes," said Anna, solemnly, "many early researchers like my husband and I had to work to make the technology safer for both patients and practitioners."

Page 9

Suddenly, the lab began to shimmer again. "It's time for me to go," Sora said sadly. "Thank you for showing me everything!" Anna smiled.
Suddenly, the lab began to shimmer again. "It's time for me to go," Sora said sadly. "Thank you for showing me everything!" Anna smiled. "Remember, Sora, discoveries often come from unexpected places. Never stop being curious!" With a final wave, Sora found herself back in her room, the encyclopedia glowing softly on her shelf.

Suddenly, the lab began to shimmer again. "It's time for me to go," Sora said sadly. "Thank you for showing me everything!" Anna smiled. "Remember, Sora, discoveries often come from unexpected places. Never stop being curious!" With a final wave, Sora found herself back in her room, the encyclopedia glowing softly on her shelf.

Page 10

Sora closed the encyclopedia and ran back outside, "Grandpa!" she shouted. "I know who invented X-rays! It was Wilhelm Roentgen, and his wife Anna Bertha…
Sora closed the encyclopedia and ran back outside, "Grandpa!" she shouted. "I know who invented X-rays! It was Wilhelm Roentgen, and his wife Anna Bertha helped!" Santiago smiled, "That's amazing, Sora. So next time you break a bone, you'll be grateful to this team?" He chuckled, patting her on the head. Sora giggled, "Exactly! Also, a cat scan also uses the same principles!"

Sora closed the encyclopedia and ran back outside, "Grandpa!" she shouted. "I know who invented X-rays! It was Wilhelm Roentgen, and his wife Anna Bertha helped!" Santiago smiled, "That's amazing, Sora. So next time you break a bone, you'll be grateful to this team?" He chuckled, patting her on the head. Sora giggled, "Exactly! Also, a cat scan also uses the same principles!"

About this story

  • Location: Germany
  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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