Microscopy is the branch of science that deals with the study of small objects using a microscope. A microscope is an instrument that magnifies objects, usually by means of glass lenses. The word microscopy comes from the Greek words μικρός (mikrós), meaning “small”, and σκοπεῖν (skopein), meaning “to look or see”.
The first known use of a microscope was in 1609 by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, a Dutch draper and amateur scientist. He used a single lens magnifying glass to observe bacteria and other microorganisms in water samples. In 1838, Scottish optician David Brewster invented the stereomicroscope, which allowed three-dimensional viewing of specimens. The compound microscope, which uses two or more lenses to magnify objects, was developed in the late 17th century and became widely used in the 19th century for medical and scientific applications.
The development of microscopes has had a profound impact on our understanding of the natural world. Microscopes have enabled scientists to make discoveries at the cellular and molecular levels, leading to advances in medicine, biology, chemistry, physics, and other sciences. Today, microscopes are used in a wide variety of fields such as industrial inspection, materials science, nanotechnology, forensics, and education.