How a microscope works
Imagine looking at a drop of pond water. At first glance, it seems empty. But under the microscope, a hidden world is revealed. Tiny creatures with beating hairs, spinning propellers, shapes and colours you won't see anywhere else. A miniature universe.
A Dutch invention
The history of the microscope begins in the Netherlands. Around 1600, Sacharias Jansen likely built the first version. But it was Antonie van Leeuwenhoek who, in the mid-17th century, became the first person to observe microbes. His handmade lenses could magnify up to 275 times – revolutionary at the time. Thanks to him, we quite literally gained an eye for the invisible.
How does a microscope work?
A microscope uses lenses and light to magnify tiny objects. You place something, like a drop of water, on a glass slide. Light shines through it from below, and the objective and eyepiece lenses magnify the image. Most optical microscopes can magnify up to 1,000 times, which is enough to see many types of microbes.
From light to electrons
There are several types of microscopes. The most familiar is the optical microscope – the kind you may have used at school. It uses visible light, making it possible to observe living microbes. But if you want to zoom in even further, you’ll need an electron microscope. These can magnify up to 500,000 times! Instead of light, they use electrons – particles smaller than atoms. This allows scientists to reveal structures that remain invisible even under a light microscope. The trade-off? You can’t use them to study living organisms.
The main parts of a microscope
Every microscope has a few basic components:
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Eyepiece - the lens you look through
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Lenses - that magnify the image
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Diaphragm - controls how much light reaches the object
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Stage - the platform where the sample is placed
Focusing knobs allow you to adjust the sharpness. Always start with the lowest magnification and work your way up. The focal point the position where the image becomes sharp, is key to successful microscopy.
Innovation: the digital microscope
The microscope continues to evolve. Today, there are digital microscopes that display the image directly on a screen – perfect for education and research. New microscopy techniques are also emerging, allowing us to see even further, down to the molecular level.
See for yourself
Don’t have a microscope at home? No problem. At ARTIS-Micropia, you can look through microscopes yourself. Watch bacteria swim, fungi grow and yeasts bubble. And discover why the microscope may be one of the most important inventions in how we understand life.
Come and see for yourself and prepare to be amazed.