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El microscopio compuesto.
Zacharías Hanssen, a manufacturer of sunglasses of Dutch origin, and his son Hans Jannsen were the creators of the composite optical microscope in 1592.
The idea arose from an experiment in which they introduced magnifying lenses into a tube and discovered that objects were best observed way. Subsequently, the invention was improved in 1655 by Robert Hooke. -
El termómetro.
Its first version was referred to as the thermoscope and is attributed to the Italian Galileo Galilei.
This invention compared the temperature of two bodies, by submerging their tubular structure in a mixture of water and alcohol. The thermscope compared temperatures, but it didn't measured them.
Subsequently, Santorio created the air thermometer: an instrument with very poor measuring scales.
Finally, in 1714 Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit created the mercury thermometer. -
La máquina de vapor
Thomas Newcomen developed the atmospheric steam machine to extract water from mines in 1712.
His machine worked by releasing the steam into a chamber, in which it cooled and condensed.
This caused a vacuum to be created that exerted pressure. The force made the piston go down a pulley and suck the water.
Later, in 1769, James Watt created the steam engine that allowed the development of maritime navigation and promoted the Industrial Revolution. -
El sistema de refrigeración moderno
Escoses physicist William Cullen discovered that some chemical reactions of gases repelled the heat of a particular area, creating a kind of ice pack. Thus he found the basis of the modern refrigeration system.
The idea of using artificial low-temperature environments for food preservation spread from Cullen's findings. This is how years later the original versions of modern refrigerators were developed. -
El pararrayos
Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning can be attracted and their discharge can be driven to shore, thus preventing damage to people and buildings.
His invention took shape by tying a kite to a fine metal body (a key) held by a silk thread.
The kite flying in the middle of the storm was quickly hit by lightning, charging the power key.