History of the Microscope

First water microscope invented

2000 BCE

The chinese used a water lense to view specimens

History of the Microscope

Period: 2000 BCE to 1986

Roger Bacon invents hand lens

1250

Roger Bacon invents the first hand lens in 1250.

Hans and Zacharias Jansen

1590

Hans and Zacharias Jansen invent the very first compound microscope.

Robert Hooke publishes his book

1667

Robert Hooke, an English scientist, publishes his book called Micrographia about his studies with the microscope.

Anton Van Leeuwenhoek uses his microscope

1675

Anton Van Leeuwenhoek used his own microscope to observe bacteria and insects.

Joseph Jackson Lister discovers more about microscopes

1830

Joseph Jackson Lister finds that using weak lenses together can provide even clearer magnification.

Richard Zsigmondy invents the ultramicroscope

1903

Richard Zsigmondy invents the ultramicroscope which allows people the see specimens below the wavelength of light.

Ernst Ruska invents the electron microscope

1938

Ernst Ruska invents the electron microscope that helps improve resolution.

Digital Microscope Invented

1986

In 1986, several Japanese scientists created the digital microscope. This allows them to transfer the image from the microscope to a computer for easy analysis.