Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (1845-1923) discovered X-rays in 1895. Since then, his name has been inseparably linked to this radiation named after him, which is now indispensable in medical diagnostics and therapy, as well as in materials testing and the structural analysis of crystals and macromolecules. For his sensational discovery, he was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901. After studying mechanical engineering, Röntgen turned to physics under the influence of August Kundt and was appointed professor of experimental physics at the age of 30. With the discovery of X-rays, he significantly contributed to shaping the modern worldview of physics.