1. The development of cell theory

2. The development of cell theory
DO you remember Hans Lippershey
from Last year’s astronomy class ?

3. The development of cell theory
The poor guy just cant seem to catch a break in our continuing story. This story isn’t just about how science advances from the discoveries that newly invented
technology allows. It is also an important lesson as to how Primary documentation used to support a claim is extremely important.
SO let’s continue…

4. The development of cell theory
It’s all about the lens. The first lenses recorded were used by by assyrians . In fact one artifact called the nimrud lens is said to date back to about BC. IT’s not made of glass but highly polished crystal.
The roman Emperor, Nero, is recorded to have use small pieces of polished gemstones to view the actors on a stage.
At about 1220 – 1292 Sir Francis Bacon (Also known as the father of the scientific method) created the first simple microscope a simple single convex lens which he used to magnify letters on a page. As lens making became better, soon monks and other clergy were wearing some of the first eye glasses.
Move forward to 1608 Hans Lippershey’s patent for the telescope is recorded in this year.
Galileo is recorded to have improved upon it in 1609.

5. The development of cell theory
TO understand the rest of the story, let’s discuss how a simple telescope is made.
This is galileo's
new and improved telescope.
How many lenses does it have?
if you look into the lens at one
end, a second lens magnifies the
image to make the image larger.

6. The development of cell theory
It wouldn’t be a large jump to understand that if you can make
Objects appear larger by looking in one end, that if you turned it around and shortened it, you make small objects look larger. Because of this, hans lippershey has also been given credit for inventing the compound (two lens) microscope at about 1608.
However letters from the Dutch diplomat William Boreel to the physician to French king in 1650’s state that another young Dutchman with the help of his father (Hans and Zacharias Janssen) actually wrote to him describing this new compound microscope
In So today, these two dutch invetors are credited with inventing the first compound microscope.
By the way, not to be outdone, just as he had with Lippershey’s telescope, Galileo also created a new and improved microscope in 1625.

7. The development of cell theory
Aton von Lewenhook did tireless work on improving lens making.
The improved lenses were instrumental in the further development of both the telescope and the microscope.
With improvements to the microscope, Robert Hook uses them to make discoveries that know one in his time knew existed, small single celled living organisms that moved in our water and soil as well a bacteria. His book, Micrographia, was widely read by the general populace because he had it published in English and purposely wrote it so that all could understand it. A new area of study was created. The science of microbiology which would soon branch out into cellular biology.