Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Veterinary radiology and modern medical diagnostics are built upon the discovery of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths that can penetrate soft tissues.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
X-rays were discovered by the German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen on November 8, 1895.
While working with a cathode-ray generator in his laboratory at the University of Würzburg, he noticed that a screen coated with barium platinocyanide began to fluoresce.
He determined that this fluorescence was caused by a new, unknown type of electromagnetic radiation, which he termed "X-rays" due to their mysterious nature.
This discovery revolutionized medicine, allowing non-invasive visualization of internal skeletal and soft tissue structures.
For this achievement, Röntgen was awarded the inaugural Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.
Step 3: Final Answer:
X-rays were discovered in the year 1895.