Resources Conventional Light

Investigations & Applications

Through the Microscope: Blood Cells

An internet gallery of health science images from light and electron microscopes.

From: , Wadsworth Center
Wadsworth Center
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Virtual Atlas of Opaque and Ore Minerals in Their Associations

Robert A. Ixer and Paul R. Duller, Department of Geological Sciences, Birmingham University and Kerr McGee Oil (UK) plc. Online atlas with 400 photomicrographs of ore minerals in reflected light. Well organized with cross referencing of samples by association, location, mineralogy, ore deposit type, minerals, texture, and properties. A great reference and teaching tool.

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Atlas of Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks, Minerals and Textures

From: , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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A Microscopical Study of Exotic Animal Hairs

From: , McCrone Associates, Inc.
McCrone Associates, Inc.
Authors: Kristen D. Partin
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Resources for Paint Pigment Microscopists

From: , McCrone Associates, Inc.
McCrone Associates, Inc.
Authors: Joe G. Barabe
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Document Examination Lab Tour

An overview of the techniques used to examine handwriting including the use of a comparison microscope for examining documents. Famous document cases are presented as examples.

From: Emily J. Will, Forensic Document Examiner
Emily J. Will, Forensic Document Examiner
Authors: Emily J. Will
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The Euglenoid Project

A research and teaching resource for students, teachers and researchers interested in the group of protists commonly known as, the euglenoids.

From: , Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Authors: Richard Triemer
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Analysis of Microscopic Material and the Stitching of the Dead Sea Scrolls

From: Surface Science Western, University of Western Ontario
Surface Science Western, University of Western Ontario
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Micrographia

Micrographia is for those who use microscopes in their investigations of the world around them. It is for students and teachers of (especially) fresh water biology in their search for creature identification and illustrative material,and for anyone at all who feels like a browse through a minutely detailed world of small animals, small plants, and small things.

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Microscope Development

Innovations in Light Microscopy

Innovations in light microscopes over the past centuries has been driven by scientists who wish to observe and measure phenomena that were smaller, fainter, (Figure 1) and deeper inside tissue than ever before.

From: Nikon Instruments USA
Nikon Instruments USA
Authors: Martin L. Scott
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Milestones Light Microscopy

Timeline of light microscopy.

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The Nobel Prize in Physics 1953 Frits Zernike

Frits Zernike recieved the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1953 for his invention of the phase contrast microscope. Biographical information and Nobel Lecture "How I Discovered Phase Contrast" are included. There is also a short documentary that includes Professor Zernike demonstrating the phase contrast.

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History of the Light Microscope

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Microscope Manuals

Micoscope Documents On Line

Collection of manuals for microscopes that are no longer in production.

Authors: Gordon Cougar
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Manuals Plus

Search for manuals in online catalog. Manuals are for sale.

From: Manuals Plus, Inc
Manuals Plus, Inc
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Polarizing, Petrographic, Geological

Overview of polarizing lights microscopes for transmitted light by knowledge geologists. the site includes many manuals in pdf format of retired student and research microscopes.

From: Stones2Gems
Stones2Gems
Authors: James Gregory McHone Ph.D.
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AO (American Optical) Spencer Microscope Manuals and Catalogs

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Leica, AO, Reichert, Reichert-Jung

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Classic Optics Microscope Manuals and Brochures

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How to Restore, Improve, and Digitize an old microscope

Download a 13 step guide for replacing lightning on discarded compound microscopes with an LED light and adding a high quality webcan for image digitization. Be sure to read the many comments.

Authors: Branebot
Citation: Instructables
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Technical Overviews

Basic Concepts and Formulas in Microscopy

From: Nikon Instruments USA
Nikon Instruments USA
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Basic Concepts in Optical Microscopy

Molecular Expressions Microscapes Primer is a top site for light microscopy information.

From: National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
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Differential Interference Contrast

From: Nikon Instruments USA
Nikon Instruments USA
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Principles of Phase Contrast Microscopy

From: Nikon Instruments USA
Nikon Instruments USA
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Microscopies

Le site des Microscopistes Amateurs

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Introduction to Polarized Light Microscopy

An excellent introduction.

From: Nikon Instruments USA
Nikon Instruments USA
Authors: Philip C. Robinson
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Principles and Applications of Interferometry

An excellent introduction.

From: Nikon Instruments USA
Nikon Instruments USA
Authors: Hiroshi Komatsu
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Carl Zeiss MicroImaging Online Campus

The Carl Zeiss MicroImaging Online Campus website explores the fascinating world of optical microscopy and provides the necessary background to understand both the basic concepts and advanced principles.

From: Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC
Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC
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Amateur Micrography Front Page

An online bulletin board community dedicated to photomacrography, amateur microscopy, and photomicrography.

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Microscope Basics and Beyond

Overview of compund microscopes including the basics, lens aberration, Koehler illumination, conjugate plates, and resolution.

From: Olympus America, Inc.
Olympus America, Inc.
Authors: Mortimer Abramowitz
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Introductions and Briefs

How Light Microscopes Work


From: HowStuffWorks
HowStuffWorks
Authors: Craig C. Freudenrich
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Microscopy and Imaging

The BitesizeBio site contains short articles (Bite size) on biological research filled with down to earth advice and how to. Added to this is a touch of levity. The Microscopy and Imaging section includes topics such light microscopy techniques, such as phase contrast, staining, fixation, immunohistochemistry and more. Though the microscopy section is introductory there is much practical information on survival in a research lab that applies to scientist who are well beyond graduate school.

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Techniques

The Beginner’s Guide to Microscopy

This introduction to microscopy and specimen preparation is written at an intermediate level and is especially useful for amateur microscopists, teachers, students, or anyone that is beginning to use microscopes. The text is well organized and uses a question and answer format making it easy to find information. Included are succinct and to the point answers and video.

Authors: Oliver Kim
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Lectures and Videos

Manu Prakash: A 50-cent microscope that folds like origami

In this Ted talk Manu Prakash describes the Folding microscope made of plastic-impregnated paper. The scope can be configured for bright-field, reflected light, dark-field, polarization, fluorescence and projection microscopy and each scope has a fixed magnification optimized for the application. The scope is in beta testing with educational users and is being tested in clinical setting for applications such as loa loa, malaria, schistosomiasis, african sleeping sickness, chagas disease .

From:

Authors: Manu Prakash
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Outreach

Microscope Exchange

The Microscope Exchange provides microscopes, lab supplies and support to diagnostic labs in developing countries. It was founded by students at the University of Vermont College of Medicine.

From: The Microscope Exchange
The Microscope Exchange
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