What’s Microscopy?

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Microscopy is a scientific discipline that involves magnifying objects that cannot be seen with the naked eye. The goal of this branch of science is to make these objects visible for study, enabling researchers to learn more about them and how they work. There are different types of microscopy and countless applications. Biology in particular relies heavily on microscopy to gather information, and this scientific tool is in daily use around the world, everywhere from high school science labs to the Centers for Disease Control.

Microscopy’s roots go back to the 1600s, when scientists and engineers began developing lenses capable of significant magnification, allowing people to see things that were previously invisible. An explosion of interest occurred when researchers began documenting “little animals,” otherwise known as microorganisms, in everything from drinking water to saliva. The realization that there was a miniature world without the knowledge of humans led researchers to refine their lenses and microscopy techniques to achieve better magnification and higher image resolution.

Optical microscopy, which involves the use of visible light, was the first form to be introduced. It is also sometimes known as “light microscopy.” Many people who have taken a science course have used it to observe organisms under a microscope. With electron microscopy, a 20th-century invention, scientists scan an object with a beam of electrons. This type produces excellent magnification, but the equipment is expensive and specimens must be prepared very precisely to obtain useful results.

Another technique, scanning probe microscopy, uses a hand-held probe to gather information about an object under investigation. It may be more versatile than electron microscopy, with numerous probe types available for different applications.

In all cases, looking at the sample is just the beginning. A researcher can prepare the sample by staining it or by subjecting it to chemical reactions to learn more, like biologists do when they subject unknown bacteria to a Gram stain. Microscopes can also be used to assist researchers with dissections and other tasks where they want to probe the inner workings of an organism.

Light microscopes can be very affordable and can be great learning tools for people interested in science. Budding scientists often greatly appreciate the gift of a microscope for exploring the world around them, and they can also work with accessories such as microscope cameras.

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