Letters

X-ray (Science)

X-ray is an electromagnetic ray of very short wavelength. It is used in a variety of scientific fields, including medicine to produce images of internal parts of the human body, astronomy to observe celestial objects by finding and measuring their X-ray emissions, and chemistry to study the crystal structure of substances through the diffraction pattern produced by X-rays.

The term "X-ray" is also used as an expression in common speech to indicate a deep and revealing look into something, but without the aid of any electromagnetic rays.

How It's Used

"At the Veterans Affairs medical facility in Washington, doctors wheel stands with wireless Panasonic Corp. Toughbook laptops into patients’ rooms, putting in information and getting electronic signatures for procedures. They can call up patient records, order prescriptions, peer at a recent X-ray or graph a chart of risk factors and medications to decide treatments."

"The new guidelines reversed a longstanding recommendation that women in their 40s automatically undergo an annual mammogram, an X-ray used to detect breast cancers, and stated that women aged 50 to 74 could reduce the frequency of such screenings to once every two years, from once a year."

"The changes should speed up boarding of international flights bound for the United States while still increasing security beyond the standard X-rays of carry-on bags and metal-detector checks of all passengers."

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