This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor: Peter Saundry
Antony van Leeuwenhoek (1632 - 1723), a Dutch microscopist famous for his advances in microscope design and construction. Leeuwenhoek is known to have made over 500 microscopes, most of which were simply powerful magnifying glasses, not compound microscopes like the type used today. Leeuwenhoek's skill at grinding lenses, together with his naturally acute eyesight and great care in adjusting the lighting where he worked, enabled him to build microscopes that magnified over 200 times, with clearer and brighter images than any of his colleagues could achieve. Using microscopes of his own design, Leeuwenhoek was the first to observe sperm, algae, bacteria, mineral crystals, fossils and red blood cells. Leeuwenhoek's observations laid the foundation for the fields of bacteriology and microbiology.
Cutler Cleveland (Lead Author);Peter Saundry (Topic Editor) "Van Leeuwenhoek, Antony". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth September 25, 2006; Last revised Date September 25, 2006; Retrieved May 24, 2012 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Van_Leeuwenhoek,_Antony>
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The Encyclopedia of Earth Cutler J. Cleveland is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth. Dr. Cleveland is currently a Professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at Boston University, with joint appointments in the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies and the Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer Range Future. He also is a Senior Fellow at the National Council for Science and the Environment in Washington D.C. Dr. Cleveland is als ... (Full Bio)
Antony van Leeuwenhoek (1632 - 1723), a Dutch microscopist famous for his advances in microscope design and construction. Leeuwenhoek is known to have made over 500 microscopes, most of which were simply powerful magnifying glasses, not compound microscopes like the type used today. Leeuwenhoek's skill at grinding lenses, together with his naturally acute eyesight and great care in adjusting the lighting where he worked, enabled him to build microscopes that magnified over 200 times, with clearer and brighter images than any of his colleagues could achieve. Using microscopes of his own design, Leeuwenhoek was the first to observe sperm, algae, bacteria, mineral crystals, fossils and red blood cells. Leeuwenhoek's observations laid the foundation for the fields of bacteriology and microbiology.
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