Microorganisms are extremely minute organisms that cannot be seen by the naked eye; a microscope is required to view these. It is a device made up of different lenses that magnifies extremely minute objects and organisms to allow for easy study of their characteristics.
The first microscope was invented in the 17th century in the form of a single lens machine. Since then, it has grown in complexity depending on the requirements of its use. Modern day devices are made up of multiple lenses, with some microscopes having the ability to magnify objects up to one million times their actual size. But such products are special devices that are used in high-end research and development laboratories.
Microscopes can broadly be divided into two major categories - light and electron. Light microscopes use light to illuminate the sample under magnification. There are four different types of light microscopes including bright field, dark field, phase contrast, and fluorescence. The ordinary laboratory microscope is an example of a light microscope.
Electron devices on the other hand use transmission or scanning for magnifying and detecting objects. These are also the two categories into which electron microscopes are divided. All electron products use electrons instead of light waves for illumination of the object under magnification.
While these products in general have metamorphosed, the laboratory microscope continues to be a simple device. The common lab device is a simple set up consisting of one or two eye pieces. These are supported by 3-4 different objective lenses of varying magnification strengths. A regular laboratory microscope has the ability to magnify objects from 5 times to about 100 times their original size. This magnification is sufficient to bring to light objects and organisms that can generally not be seen by the naked eye.
These also have an oil immersion lens in which the magnification takes place through a lens immersed in oil. Special oil is used in combination with the lens to achieve extra magnification of up to 100 times. The oil and the glass lenses have the same refractive index to ensure there is no loss of light due to refraction.
Laboratory microscopes that are used by medical laboratories involved in the analysis of bodily fluids are somewhat different. These are of a higher magnification power. As bacteria and viruses come in sizes that are smaller than the magnification powers of ordinary laboratory microscopes, many laboratories also employ electron products to detect these organisms.
The laboratory microscope has had a long and glorious history; some of the biggest scientists and some of the biggest scientific discoveries of all times have been possible due to this device. An example of this is the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming, who accidentally found the substance when it infected and contaminated one of his experiments. When he put it under his microscope he was surprised to find that it had filled many of the bacteria in his experiment.
There are many similar amazing discoveries that can be attributed to these microscopy products. Though seemingly simple devices, they can today be found in almost every high school and college all over the world. Every student that has studied life sciences such as botany, biology, zoology, has found this device an indispensible aid in completing his education. In that sense, the simple laboratory microscope has played an incomparable role in furthering the development of science and leading discoveries through the centuries.
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Take a look at other targeted resources about microscopes including stereomicroscope products and more specific information about laboratory microscopes products here
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