The History of the Microscope
A biological tool which can be used to view objects that can’t be seen with the naked eye.
What is a microscope?!
Objects such as…CellsTissueMicroscopic Organisms
Blood Cells
Amoeba
Mosquito
First visionary aid was invented.
Known as a Reading Stone
What do we call these today?
1000 AD
Janssen and Janssen first experimented with multiple lenses in a tube◦ (First Compound Microscope)
1590
Compound Microscope Today
Robert Hooke viewed cork under his microscope.◦ Called them Cells
1665 (The Discovery of the “Cell”)
Anton Van Leeuwenhoek◦ “Father of Microbiology”◦ Created Simple Microscope to view blood, yeast,
and insects.◦ Invented knew methods in lens creation
Magnification up to 270 diameters
1674 (The Father of Microbiology)
Improvements were made to increase magnification and viewing capabilities
1830 - Jackson reduces the spherical abberations on lenses◦ Reduced Image Blur
1903 – Zsigmondy develops ultramicroscope◦ Allowed scientists to view objects smaller than wavelength of light (Noble Prize 1925)
1700-1930’s
Invented by Ernst Rusk◦ Uses electrons rather than light◦ Allows for the viewing of objects as
small as the diameter of an atom.◦ Won Ernst Noble Prize in 1953
1931 (Electron Microscope)
Rusk’s Electron Microscope (1930’s)
Electron Microscope
Today
Invented by Binning and Rohrer◦ Allows for 3D magnification◦ Total Magnification 100,000,000X
Atomic Level Birth of Nanoscience
◦ Won Noble Prize 1986
1981 (Scanning Tunneling Microscope)
Silicon AtomsSurface
of a piece of gold
Binning and Rohrer with their STM
In Class◦ Compound Light Microscope◦ Stereo Microscope
HRTEM (High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope)◦ Worlds “Best” Microscope
For Scientific Use Total Mag = 47,000,000X
AFM (Atomic Force Microscope)◦ Worlds Most Powerful Microscope
Allows scientists to view individual atoms Total Mag = >100,000,000X
Today
High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope
Compound Microscope
Atomic Force Microscope
Stereo Microscope
Recommended
