X-Ray Vision: The Evolution of Medical Imaging and Its Human Significance

Diagram of the human heart, showing blood flowing back toward the heart through the superior and inferior vena cava, into the right atrium.

The use of multiple converging beams of ionizing radiation to treat a tumor at the center of the brain without delivering a full dose of radiation to surrounding normal brain tissues.

A hidden image beneath the Van Gogh self-portrait, as revealed by x-rays.

Images of the Crab Nebula, as revealed by emissions in different portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The electromagnetic spectrum. Note that we directly perceive, as visible light, only a tiny portion of the range of electromagnetic waves.