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Mysteries of vernacular: X-ray - Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel

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The story of the word X-Ray is one of great thinkers. French philosopher Rene Descartes isolated the letters X, Y and Z to stand for unknowns, and centuries later, Wilhelm Röntgen discovered the X-ray, using the X for the unknown nature of the radiation. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel shed some light on the etymology of this modern marvel.


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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Director Jessica Oreck
  • Producer Rachael Teel
Additional Resources for you to Explore
To learn more about the history of X-ray tubes and Wilhelm Röntgen, visit The Cathode Ray Tube Site. This is a detailed animation about exactly what happens during an X-ray. Here's a set of extraordinary X-rays as featured in TIME Magazine.
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TED-Ed
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New York, NY
What are some uses of X-rays?
08/05/2013 • 
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Customize This Lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Director Jessica Oreck
  • Producer Rachael Teel

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