X-Ray Movies

The Institute of Zoology and Evolutionary Research has one of the world's largest databases of X-ray fluoroscopic recordings of animals in motion. Since 1993, more than 50,000 film recordings have been made, first at the former Institute for Scientific Film in Göttingen (IWF) and since 2007 in Jena. The collection has been growing ever since. Through the database, we make them available to the public and to research.

It demonstrates the vast range of potential research applications offered by this technique. By looking under the skin, fluoroscopy allows us to develop a deep understanding of the function of movements. The collection is not only designed to benefit researchers at other institutions, it is also open to schools and other educational institutions and can be used by anyone working in the fields of multimedia communication and instruction. In recent years, it has even inspired artists to create new and spectacular works.