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Through the Lens: Microscopes Never Go Out of Style

It's been 355 years since the microscope was invented, yet we are still looking through that small lens and seeing the world on a whole new level. Get a larger-than-life look at human and plant cells, and watch the tiny building blocks of life in action.


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Duke University's Invisibility Cloak

Duke University's Invisibility Cloak (3:10)

Watch this video about Duke's invisibility cloak on HowStuffWorks. The first working "invisibility cloak" has been created by a team at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering. See how this invisibility cloak works in this video from Duke... More »

Anthrax Laser

Anthrax Laser (1:44)

Watch this video about an anthrax laser on HowStuffWorks. Recent anthrax scares in New York and Florida underscore the need for rapid detection of biological weapons. Scientists have developed a new laser technique that could detect anthrax in... More »

The World of the Microscope: Organisms in Pond Water

The World of the Microscope: Organisms in Pond Water (2:31)

In this video clip, viewers see images of pond specimens through a microscope.

Photonics Gives a New Way of Controlling Light

Photonics Gives a New Way of Controlling Light (4:55)

Research at the University of Bath is pioneering the development of photonic crystal fibres. These optical fibres are able to harness the power of light in many new ways, enhancing existing applications and leading to many new ones.

Building the Hybrid Silicon Laser

Building the Hybrid Silicon Laser (3:34)

This video shows how the Hybrid Silicon Laser is integrated into a microchip.

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Simply Science: Magnification and Field of View

Simply Science: Magnification and Field of View (2:04)

This video explains how to use a compound light microscope and how to calculate the total magnification of the specimen.

Through the Lens: Microscopes Never Go Out of Style

Through the Lens: Microscopes Never Go Out of Style (52:22)

It's been 355 years since the microscope was invented, yet we are still looking through that small lens and seeing the world on a whole new level. Get a larger-than-life look at human and plant cells, and watch the tiny building blocks of life in... More »

Out of Darkness: Review of the Light Series

Out of Darkness: Review of the Light Series (1:43)

This clip reviews the program on light, revisiting the concepts of reflection, refraction, photosynthesis, color, absorption, transparency, opacity, the nature of vision and the speed of light.

Out of Darkness: An Introduction to Light

Out of Darkness: An Introduction to Light (1:10)

This video examines the nature of light: what it is, how it works and how it affects us.

The World of the Microscope: A Review

The World of the Microscope: A Review (1:53)

This video briefly reviews various microscopes and how they work.

The World of the Microscope: The Electron Microscope

The World of the Microscope: The Electron Microscope (3:11)

The electron microscope uses electrons rather than light to magnify an object. Preparing a sample for an electron microscope requires a vacuum and a gold-plated sample. An electron microscope is much more powerful than a light microscope.

The World of the Microscope: Cells and Bacteria

The World of the Microscope: Cells and Bacteria (2:39)

The cell is the basic unit of living organisms. Bacteria are among the smallest organisms and cannot be seen without a microscope. Antony van Leeuwenhoek created a microscope that could visualize bacteria.

The World of the Microscope: Organisms in Pond Water

The World of the Microscope: Organisms in Pond Water (2:31)

In this video clip, viewers see images of pond specimens through a microscope.

The World of the Microscope: Some Microscopic Images

The World of the Microscope: Some Microscopic Images (1:43)

In this clip, viewers see images of many objects through a microscope.

The World of the Microscope: Using Specimen Slides

The World of the Microscope: Using Specimen Slides (2:31)

In this clip, thin specimen slides are professionally prepared. The proper way to use a microscope is discussed.