Why every home should have a microscope
No, I didn't mean to say microwave (although those are great, too)
(Just a heads up: If you use my Amazon links, I might earn a commission — at no extra cost to you.)
I’m 37 years old, with no biology degree, no lab coat, and no real reason to own a microscope… and yet, I bought one. And it’s awesome.
After a few months of using it, I’m baffled that more people don’t own these. Or at least want to.
If you want a quick dopamine hit, put your phone down and put a bug under a microscope. See pollen on a flower at 100x. Watch water bubbles float around in a flower petal.
I’m not sure when curiosity started requiring a degree. Or when microscopes got locked away in schools and labs. But trust me, they’re way more accessible than you think.
Mine was from Amazon for $240 — not the $2,000 I assumed when I first looked. And yes, that’s still not cheap. But it’s interesting that for many of us, the barrier isn’t just cost — it’s that we never even thought about owning one.
Is it hard to use? Not really. I find it more intuitive than turning on our outdoor grill. Plus, it can’t singe your eyebrows.
I keep mine in my office, away from my kids (if I can’t trust them with play dough, they’re not getting near precision optics). But one day, I’ll put it somewhere they can use it. Imagine them bringing in nature finds to examine. Or me saying to guests at a dinner party, “Oh, that’s our communal microscope. Want to see your fingernail up close?” … Okay, that sounded creepier than intended. But you get the idea.
Before you write this off, take a look at some of the images I’ve taken.
Would you get a microscope?