Changes

2,181 bytes added ,  20:03, 11 April 2012
Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame ==Origin== New Latin ''microscopium'', from ''micr''- + -''scopium'' -scope *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century...'
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Micros1.jpg|right|frame]]

==Origin==
New Latin ''microscopium'', from ''micr''- + -''scopium'' -scope
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century 1651]
==Definitions==
*1: an [[optical]] instrument consisting of a [[lens]] or combination of lenses for making enlarged [[images]] of minute objects
*2: a non-optical instrument (as one using [[radiation]]s other than [[light]] or using [[vibrations]]) for making enlarged images of minute objects <an [[acoustic]] microscope>
==Description==
A '''microscope''' (from the [[Greek]]: μικρός, ''mikrós'', "small" and σκοπεῖν, ''skopeîn'', "to look" or "see") is an instrument used to see objects that are too small for the naked eye. The [[science]] of investigating small objects using such an instrument is called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microscopy microscopy]. Microscopic means invisible to the eye unless aided by a microscope.

There are many types of microscopes, the most common and first to be invented is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_microscope optical microscope] which uses [[light]] to [[image]] the sample. Other major types of microscopes are the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_microscope electron microscope] (both the transmission electron microscope and the scanning electron microscope) and the various types of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scanning_probe_microscope scanning probe microscope].

The first microscope to be developed was the optical microscope, although the original inventor is not easy to identify. An early microscope was made in 1590 in Middelburg, Netherlands.[1] Two eyeglass makers are variously given credit: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Lippershey Hans Lippershey] (who developed an early telescope) and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zacharias_Janssen#Microscope Zacharias Janssen]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Faber Giovanni Faber] coined the name microscope for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Galilei Galileo Galilei]'s compound microscope in 1625 (Galileo had called it the "''occhiolino''" or "''little eye''").[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microscope]

[[Category: General Reference]]