100 years of X-rays and 50 years of NMR

Abstract

Discovery of X-rays by W. C. Roentgen was the result of systematic probing into a chance observation. Ever since their discovery, one hundred years ago, X- rays have contributed significantly towards human health and scientific research. These contributions will continue to grow exponentially, with the development of synchrotron sources of X-rays and solid state detectors. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), discovered 50 years ago independently by Bloch and Purcell, also has evolved tremendously since its discovery. The development of Fourier transform and multidimensional NMR has enabled structures of biological macromolecules to be determined in solution, thereby providing information complementary to that obtained from X-ray techniques. The techniques of magnetic resonance imaging and X-ray transmission computed tomogra- phy are proving invaluable in the diagnosis and treatment of human disease.