  This essay sketches the development of X-ray Absorption Fine Spectroscopy
(XAFS) ever since the second half of 20th century. At that time, synchrotrons
started competing with X-ray discharge tubes as the sources of the excitation
able to show the pre- and near-edge structures (XANES) and extended
oscillations (EXAFS) that characterize the X-ray absorption edge of solid
matter. Actually, modern XAFS began after 1975, when the hard-X-ray synchrotron
radiation derived from storage rings took over. Ever since, XAFS greatly
contributed to both technical refinement and to theoretical development of
Materials Science. Although a unified theory of X-ray fine absorption has not
been reached yet, many XAFS advancements benefited of theoretical models and
complex calculations made possible by the continuous growth of the computing
power, while contributing to developing new or previously never used materials.
