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rayos incógnita

English translation: unknown rays / type of radiation

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:rayos incógnita
English translation:unknown rays / type of radiation
Entered by: Andrew Darling

20:41 Nov 22, 2022
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Science - Science (general) / X-rays
Spanish term or phrase: rayos incógnita
Dear colleagues,

What would be the most accurate translation for "rayos incógnita" in the following sentence:

Los llamó rayos X, los rayos incógnita.

The text before that sentence describes how the physicist Wilhelm Röntgen discovered X-rays through an experiment.
According to my research, there are, of course, different names for X-rays, such as Röntgen rays or radiographs, but I'm not sure as to how "rayos incógnita" should be translated.

TIA.
Andrew Darling
Spain
Local time: 11:58
unknown rays / type of radiation
Explanation:
"Röntgen referred to the radiation as "X", to indicate that it was an unknown type of radiation."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray#Discovery_by_Röntgen
Selected response from:

Robert Carter
Mexico
Local time: 03:58
Grading comment
Great help, thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5unknown rays / type of radiation
Robert Carter
4mysterious rays / enigmatic rays
Alberto de Antonio Rivera


  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
unknown rays / type of radiation


Explanation:
"Röntgen referred to the radiation as "X", to indicate that it was an unknown type of radiation."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray#Discovery_by_Röntgen

Robert Carter
Mexico
Local time: 03:58
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16
Grading comment
Great help, thanks!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Yes, that’s it: unknown rays was the term I was looking for. I couldn’t see the wood for the trees! (It’s been a long day) Thank you!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard
6 mins
  -> Thanks, Phil.
agree  patinba
31 mins
  -> Thanks, Pat.
agree  Andrew Bramhall
44 mins
  -> Thanks, Andrew.
agree  Thomas Walker
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Tom
agree  James A. Walsh
16 hrs
  -> Thanks, James.
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
mysterious rays / enigmatic rays


Explanation:
Just a couple of suggestions. Good luck ¡¡


    https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/enigmatic
    https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/mysterious
Alberto de Antonio Rivera
Spain
Local time: 11:58
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you for your answer. I would split the points if that were an option because I think "mysterious rays" is another good option for the sentence.

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