by Jim Samposzi

The development of today’s microscope is a culmination of several attempts to find a way to magnify things with lenses and light. The microscope was just that tool that allowed scientists and other professionals to see objects through a lens to allow for humans to be able to see it. There were many inceptions of this tool that were conceived of during the time of the ancient Egyptians in 2600 B.C. Lots of other civilizations throughout the world took a try at developing this instrument and they all had their contribution to the modern day microscope. After the ancient times however, The French, English, and Germans all came out with stunning instruments that paved the way for the modern day microscope.

In the microscope’s early days, a father and son, Hans and Zacharias Janssen, created the first microscopic instrument which was simply a tube with a lens put on the end. This precursor to microscopes magnified matter from three to nine times the present size. It is debated whether it was Hans that actually invented this microscope for the son Zacharias was rather young at this time.

Robert Hooke, an inventor of England of the sixteen hundreds is well known for various discoveries and realizations in science and math. Hooke was a chemist, mathematician, man of physics, and inventor. In 1660, Hooke improved upon the design of the microscope that was able to magnify cells and tiny matter. As a matter of fact, he was the inventor of the word cells that described these microscopic organisms that he viewed underneath his crafted microscope. He was referred to as the gentleman whom lead to the birth of physics which Newton later expanded upon.

Anton van Leeuwenhoek, of the 1600’s was a brilliant and talented individual. Although the man was absent of a large fortune or source of funding for his research, he still developed many useful experiments which lead to the development of the microscope as we know it in today’s world. Leeuwenhoek however was the protege to Hooke for that he got most of is ideas from Hooke’s publications and journals. This fact though is often debated as to which one of these men were the most contributory. Since both men were experimenting around the same time, some say Hooke got his inventions from Leeuwenhoek while other individuals believe it to be the opposite.

Bettering of the design of this amazing tool in the 1700’s was slow going, then in the middle portion of the 19th century when Charles A. Spencer developed a microscope with the power we know of today. These powerful machines are strong enough to see things at thousands of times of magnification; making things that would be impossible to see, possible to see. Spencer is said to be the manufacturing of modern-day microscopes.

There were a slough of individuals who were known for their great contributions to microscopes. But, the aforementioned individuals are known as the pioneers and biggest contributors to the microscope we see today. Without the labor and dedication of these great men, we might still be searching. Or, even worse, this valuable tool might have been a thing of fiction.

Jim is a publicist with more than ten years writing experience. Jim is presently engaged as a national correspondent with our b2b site and is considered the resident specialist on optics. Take the time to visit our website for additional information on Microscopes and Stereo Microscopes.