History Of Microscopes (And Medical Discovery.)

Flea Glasses

1500

Created in the 1500's flea glasses were more a trivial toy than a scientific tool. They were designed as the name suggests to view small creatures such as flea's.

First Compound Microscope

1590

In 1590 two Dutch men, Zaccaria and Hans Janssen aligned two lenses inside a tube to create the first compound microscope thus laying the foundations for modern microscopes.

Discovery of “Cells”

1665

In 1665 Robert Hooke built the first true two lense microscope and used it to observe cork. He discovered structures that resembled monastery cells so he very creatively called these structures “Cells”.

Anton Van Leeuwenhoek

1675

In 1675 Anton Van Leeuwenhoek was the first human to use microscopes for scientific use, with his invention which was a singles lenses microscope he viewed specimens at 279 times their original size.

Development of “Cell Theory”

1839

Due to previous discoveries and microscope advanced two men named Schwann and Schleiden developed the cell theory. It states three very important truths, All living things are made up of one or more cells, All cells come from other living cells and Cells are the smallest units of life.

Modern Microscope

1860

In 1860 Ernst Abbe developed what is today known as the modern microscope.

Electron Microscope

1931

Due to human nature scientists always wanted to view larger magnifications than a light microscope could achieve, and in 1931 two germans Ernst Ruska and Max Knott created the first electron microscope. Because of electrons having shorter wavelength than light waves the resolution of the electron microscope was much better thus allowing it to magnify to levels far beyond the previous light microscope.