The Gadget That Changed How We See The World | Cell | BBC Earth Science

Oh the sweet irony of a video about something to enhance our vision being uploaded in 480p in 2024 🤣

1:40 I bet a lot of people had the curiosity. But only that one guy had the money and the technology...And the curiosity.

I like at 2:29 our lens maker is not only looking at a lens, but through two other lenses at the same time

The enthusiasm from Hans could be hardly seen in the devices he builds.

Dang, didn’t know Leeuwenhoek made the first microscope. We study him as a scientist, but he was also a master craftsman.

Leeuwenhoek's first lens was a drop of water, gravity and surface tension provided the curvature.

I remember watching this show when it came out, Adam is a great science communicator! He heated up a spoon over a flame and put it on his arm and it stuck to his skin... No doubt he still has the scar to this day!

A lens is called a lens because it had the shape (and size) of a lentil. !!!!

To talk about an astonishing, ancient microscope and only show a few seconds of footage from it is rather annoying.

His incredible craftsmanship and curiosity opened up new frontiers in science and medicine. 🔬

As a child, I was given a set of science encyclopaedias from which I learned about Leeuwenhoek and his "little beasties" from this time on, I was fascinated by optics. Now, more than 60 years later, I am still fascinated. I made a career out of it and have my own work room with high and low power microscopes and cameras adapted for high magnification. It's a very absorbing hobby in my retirement!!

50 years of gate keeping by van Leeuwenhoek

With his craftmanship, it's safe to say that Mr. Locke is very Hans on😅

Watching this video in 8K resolution is the best part. Thank you BBC for uploading it with high resolution

You can achieve a similar effect just by crying. When you stop crying do not wipe your eyelashes. Let the small balls of tears hanging on. Now try to center your eye to the small drops in your eyelashes (it takes some practice). If you approach an object at the correct distance you will see your tears make an excellent microscope. Unfortunately the effect lasts only a few seconds. If you wonder why to use tears and not plain water it is because tears lasts longer. If you suffer from short live tears (a condition also called dry eyes) you may not achieve the effect.

I cant get enough of stuff like this

I'm sure this microscope would've been amazing for scientific field work in it's time. Such an elegant solution!

“Oh wow” - that sums up the video !!!

Great content. I do not think van Leeuwenhoek received the recognition he deserved for his contributions to science.

For anyone who would like to watch the full documentary, this is from the BBC TV series, "The Cell" released in 2009. I don't have a link to it, but if you google on "BBC The Cell 2009," a link should pop up.