The microscope is a vital instrument used to view objects that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Since its invention in the late 16th century, it has evolved significantly, enabling advances in various scientific fields such as biology, medicine, and materials science. There are two main types: the optical microscope, which uses light to illuminate samples, and the electron microscope, which uses electron beams for much higher resolution. A common optical microscope can magnify images up to about 1000 times their original size, while electron microscopes can achieve magnifications of hundreds of thousands of times, allowing observation of structures at the atomic level.