I can make my own microscope!

Bacteria, fungi, and viruses are tiny organisms living around us. Most are beneficial, but some are not. Microbiology is the study of these organisms, but how can we see them given their tiny size? Microorganisms are around 1 micrometer in size, too small to be seen by the naked eye. The microscope, invented in 1590 by Zaccharias Janssen and later used by Antoine van Leeuwenhoek to observe microbes, allows us to magnify them. Microscopy is crucial in microbiology as it helps us understand microbial processes and identify beneficial or harmful organisms. Modern microscopes can even observe bacteria in real-time, swimming and forming biofilms. While these instruments are expensive, it's possible to build a low-cost version with everyday materials.