History of the microscope

By Wajeeha Malik

What is a light microscope?

The light microscope, so called because it employs visible light to detect small objects, is probably the most well-known and well-used research tool in biology. Yet, many students and teachers are unaware of the full range of features that are available in light microscopes. Since the cost of an instrument increases with its quality and versatility, the best instruments are, unfortunately, unavailable to most academic programs. However, even the most inexpensive "student" microscopes can provide spectacular views of nature and can enable students to perform some reasonably sophisticated experiments.
Source= http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/metho ds/microscopy/microscopy.html

What can it see and do?

There are basically two types of microscopes, high power and low power. You would use a high power microscope for looking at very tiny things like bacteria, blood cells, life in pond water, cells and insect legs. The low power microscopes are used to look at larger things like a bee, a fly, fabric weaves, coins, stamps and sand grains. On the left, sand, placed on black paper is best seen with a low power microscope. Head lice (right) are small but visible
and yet are best seen with a high power microscope.

Low power "Stereo

High Power "Compound"

source=http://www.microscope-microscope.org/basic/buyersguide.htm

What is a TEM?
(TRANSMISSION electron microscope Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a microscopy technique whereby a beam of electrons is transmitted through an ultra thin specimen, interacting with the specimen as it passes through. An image is formed from the interaction of the electrons transmitted through the specimen; the image is magnified and focused onto an imaging device, such as a fluorescent screen, on a layer of photographic film, or to be detected by a sensor such as a CCD camera.

Who discovered it and when?

Microscope was invented by ZACCHARIAS JANSSEN a DUTCHMAN in 1590. From 1632-1723 ANTON VAN LEUWENHOEK was getting better results with a powerful single lens, which he made himself. He was a dry goods dealer who made lenses as a hobby. Leuwenhoek kept his method of lens making a secret. After his death microscopic investigation slowed down because nobody knew how to make lenses as well as he did, 19th century lenses were perfected by the other scientists and they were able to look through clear microscopes again.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_name_of_the_perso n_who_discovered_the_first_microscope#ixzz1ZKadHuEB

What can a TEM see?

You can see objects to the order of a few angstrom (1010 m). For example, you can study small details in the cell or different materials down to near atomic levels. The possibility for high magnifications has made the TEM a valuable tool in both medical, biological and materials research.

Source=http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/physics/microscopes/tem/in dex.html

What is a SEM?

What can it see?

What fields use microscope and what for? doctors,teachers,forensists,health & safety officers)
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How is the microscope going to develop in the future?

Time line of a microscope?