Imagine trying to cope with a pandemic like COVID-19 in a world where microscopic life was unknown. Prior to the 17th century, people were limited by what they could see with their own two eyes. But ...

Dutch scientist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek made extraordinary observations of blood cells, sperm cells and bacteria with his microscopes. But it turns out the lens technology he used was quite ordinary.

In 1675, when Dutch self-taught scientist Antoni van Leeuwenhoek first used his homemade microscope to examine a drop of rainwater, he made a discovery that would have an immeasurable impact on human ...