Lab Basics

Centrifuges - What Are They? Technically, any device that applies centrifugal force to objects by rotating them around a central axis might be called a centrifuge. Centrifuges are devices that apply high-speed spinning to objects, liquid or gas samples, to separate their individual components. Centrifuges contain a rotor where tubes…

Microscopes are sophisticated instruments used to see and analyze small specimens. With impressive optical and mechanical features, microscopes provide three-dimensional enlarged images of small objects and structures. They are used across a variety of settings, such as medicine, forensics, education, and geology. Depending on the research goals, microscopists can choose…

Given the mysterious beauty of the endless cosmos, there’s no doubt that telescopes are among the most fascinating instruments in the field of science. Telescopes are essential devices that have enabled the study of the universe by providing magnified images of distant objects and structures. Interestingly, telescopes have undergone significant…

The history of telescopy is fascinating. The first telescope was invented in the 17th century. Note that it was spectacle-maker Hans Lippershey, who was credited as the inventor of the first refractor telescope and Galileo Galilei, who pointed the telescope towards the skies. Early refractor telescopes, however, suffered from chromatic…

Telescopes have undergone significant transformations since the 17th century - or when the first refractor telescope was invented. Note that spectacle-maker Hans Lippershey was credited as the inventor of the telescope and Galileo Galilei as the scientist who pointed the telescope towards the skies. In 1668 Sir Isaac Newton created…

Magnifiers are defined as instruments that enlarge the size of images. Interestingly, the phenomenon of magnification was highly valued in the ancient world. In Ancient Egypt and Rome, for instance, people used crystals and gemstones to view small objects or images; the magnifying glass was also used to ignite paper.…

From full-size units to pocket models, microscopes are complex tools that facilitate the analysis of small objects and structures across various settings, such as medicine, education, engineering, and manufacturing. Microscopes are based on the phenomenon of magnification, highly valued in the ancient world. Note that it was in the 13th…

While both reflecting and refracting models continued improving over the years, advancements in lens technology outside the field of telescopy led to the development of the catadioptric telescope - a combination of refracting (lenses) and reflecting (mirrors) optics. To provide an example, in 1820, physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel developed the prominent…

Binoculars are versatile tools that provide enlarged images of distant objects. Note that binoculars are made of two telescopes mounted on a single frame, which allows the use of both eyes. The design of binoculars has evolved significantly over the centuries. Although the phenomenon of magnification was highly valued in…