Did Wilhelm Roentgen discover X-Rays on purpose?

Wilhelm Roentgen discovered X-rays by accident while experimenting with cathode rays. His investigation focused on the behavior of cathode rays in a vacuum tube, and during these experiments, he noticed that a fluorescent screen in his laboratory began to glow even though it was not in the direct path of the cathode rays. This unexpected observation prompted him to conduct further tests, leading to the discovery of a new type of radiation that could penetrate various materials. Roentgen's serendipitous finding ultimately paved the way for the development of X-ray technology, but it was not the result of a targeted or planned experiment to discover a new form of radiation. His work was foundational for medical imaging, but the initial discovery was characterized by inadvertent observations rather than deliberate intent.