Microscopes

Seeing the very small

An interactive lesson with 6 steps, about 5 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• Light microscopes can’t resolve details smaller than about 200 nm (Abbe).
• Electron microscopes use tiny electron wavelengths to see atoms.
• Super-resolution microscopy sidesteps the limit with switchable fluorescence.

Steps

1. The Abbe limit
2. Electron microscopes
3. Oil immersion
4. Breaking the limit
5. Two points or one?
6. Abbe’s number