Over time, scientific discoveries and advances become commonplace, part of our everyday lives that we take for granted. X-rays are a perfect example. People are familiar with how doctors use them to see inside the human body, particularly bones and teeth. And X-rays have also become a staple of popular culture, especially in science-fiction media. Children have grown up dreaming about having “X-ray vision” like Superman. In the 1963 sci-fi classic, “X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes,” a doctor invents eye drops that enable him to see beyond the spectrum of visible light into the realm of X-ray wavelengths. Almost 120 years after German scientist Wilhelm Röntgen discovered them, X-rays have become an integral part of people’s lives and the human experience — while scientists continue to push the limits of what they can reveal and do for civilization.
What secrets are hiding in Japan’s most cherished cultural treasures? X-ray fluorescence analysis is revealing surprising information about how Japanese artists worked, including what materials and paints they used to create some of the country’s most iconic works. Are the colors in precious scrolls really what they seem to be? Researchers have discovered that X-rays reveal much more than meets the eye.
Visible light shows us just a tiny fraction of the universe. With the aid of X-ray technology, scientists are able to see what is really happening in outer space. From enormous clouds of super-hot gas surrounding galaxy clusters to the mind-bending energy of black holes and the enigmatic presence of “dark matter,” X-ray astronomy is exposing what the universe has been hiding for billions of years.
Japan has long been a leader in X-ray technology. Today, Japanese scientists are using sophisticated X-ray equipment that can illuminate atoms and molecules. SPring-8, XFEL, and SACLA may sound like devices in a science-fiction movie, but they’re actually being used right now to study the building blocks of life. The applications of this research may mean breakthroughs in everything from pharmaceuticals to the development of new materials.
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- Nikon Observes Quality with X-rays
Nikon manufactures sophisticated X-ray technology that enables enhanced observation of a broad array of materials and objects. Our equipment, including the XT H 450 LC X-ray computed tomography (CT) inspection system, provides state-of-the-art quality control across a broad array of industries.
- Nikon Observes Quality with X-rays
- ASTRO-H
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This is the official site of ASTRO-H, JAXA’s next X-ray observatory mission. It contains information about the satellite, including details of its different X-ray systems, a project diary and a mission schedule. There are also new updates, a photo gallery and links to other JAXA websites.
- SACLA (XFEL)
This site offers comprehensive information about the SPring-8 Angstrom Compact Free Electron Laser (SACLA) and the X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) at the RIKEN Harima Institute. It features results of research and other news, updated frequently, and links to related projects, including the SPring-8 Center.
- X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)
This page about XRF comes from the Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. It is a clearinghouse of information, including definitions, fundamental principles, instrumentation and applications. It also features links to many sites dealing with all aspects of XRF.
Updated May 9, 2012