who invented the microscope

The microscope was invented in the late 16th century by Dutch spectacle makers Hans and Zacharias Janssen, a father-son team. They created one of the first compound microscopes around the 1590s by placing multiple lenses inside a tube, which allowed objects to appear larger. Although their microscopes were rudimentary compared to modern versions, this invention marked a significant advancement in scientific instrumentation. Later, in the 1660s, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, also Dutch, greatly improved microscope lenses by grinding them to achieve higher magnifications. He is often called the father of microscopy for his discoveries using these powerful single-lens microscopes, which could magnify objects up to about 270x and reveal the microscopic world, including bacteria and blood cells. Thus, Zacharias and Hans Janssen are credited with inventing the first compound microscope, while Antonie van Leeuwenhoek is credited with advancing microscope technology and popularizing its use in scientific study.