360What happened in 1895?
13 moments from 1895 on 360n60, each told in 60 words or fewer.
- History · 8 November 1895
Wilhelm Röntgen discovers X-rays
On 8 November 1895, the German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen discovered a new kind of invisible ray that could pass through the human body and show the bones inside. He called them X-rays. Within months, doctors were using them, and in 1901 Röntgen received the first Nobel Prize in Physics.
- History · 28 December 1895
The Lumière brothers hold the first public cinema show
On 28 December 1895, Auguste and Louis Lumière showed ten short films to a paying audience in a basement room of the Grand Café in Paris. Their cinématographe both filmed and projected moving pictures. Each film lasted under a minute, showing scenes such as workers leaving a factory. It is often called the birth of cinema.
- On this day · 12 January 1895
Britain's National Trust is founded
On 12 January 1895, the National Trust was founded in Britain by Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Hardwicke Rawnsley to protect places of natural beauty and historic interest for everyone. Today it cares for hundreds of historic houses, gardens and nature reserves, and long stretches of coastline.
- On this day · 9 February 1895
Volleyball is invented
9 February 1895 is the date usually given for the invention of volleyball by the PE teacher William G. Morgan in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He called his gentler indoor game 'mintonette': players hit a ball back and forth over a high net. Renamed volleyball, it became an Olympic sport in 1964 and is played by millions worldwide.
- On this day · 13 February 1895
The Lumière brothers patent the cinématographe
On 13 February 1895, Auguste and Louis Lumière patented the cinématographe in France, a light machine that could film, develop and project moving pictures. Later that year they used it for the first public, paid film show in Paris, often called the birth of cinema.
- On this day · 8 November 1895
Wilhelm Röntgen discovers X-rays
On 8 November 1895, the German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen noticed a glowing screen in his laboratory and discovered a new kind of invisible ray that could pass through the human body. He called them X-rays. Within months, doctors were using them to see broken bones.
- On this day · 27 November 1895
Alfred Nobel signs the will that creates the Nobel Prizes
On 27 November 1895, in Paris, the Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel signed his last will. He left most of his fortune to fund annual prizes for those who 'conferred the greatest benefit to humankind' in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and peace. The first prizes were awarded in 1901.
- On this day · 22 December 1895
The first X-ray image of a human hand
On 22 December 1895, Wilhelm Röntgen made an X-ray image of his wife Anna Bertha's hand, clearly showing her bones and wedding ring. It was the first X-ray of a human body part, and it amazed the world when Röntgen published his discovery days later.
- On this day · 28 December 1895
The first public film screening
On 28 December 1895, the brothers Auguste and Louis Lumière showed short films to a paying audience at the Grand Café in Paris, using their Cinématographe. Around 30 people watched ten short films. The evening is often seen as the birth of cinema.
- 1895 · from The first Nobel Prizes are awarded
Nobel signs his will
- 22 December 1895 · from Wilhelm Röntgen discovers X-rays
First X-ray image of a hand
- February 1895 · from The Lumière brothers hold the first public cinema show
The Lumières patent the cinématographe
- 1895 · from The 1890s: X-rays, cinema and the Olympic Games reborn
Röntgen discovers X-rays; first public film screening