X-ray

light · invisible · medical · energy

Invisible light waves. X-rays are a type of energy that travels as waves, just like the light you see, but your eyes can't detect them. They have much shorter wavelengths than regular light, which gives them special powers.

Pass through soft stuff. X-rays can zip right through your skin, muscles, and organs, but they get stopped by hard things like bones and metal. This is why doctors use them to take pictures of broken bones inside your body.

Packed with energy. X-rays carry way more energy than regular light or ultraviolet rays. This huge amount of energy is what allows them to pass through things and create pictures on special detectors.

Teeny tiny wavelengths. X-ray waves are incredibly small, ranging from about 10 nanometers down to 10 picometers. To put that in perspective, they're about 1,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair!