Back to School Tips

It's once again that time of year for students. A time of new classes, new teachers and an entire year of learning and discovery for students as a new school year is in their horizon. Below are some helpful tips for keeping your student organized and focused all school year long. 

Use binders for organizing projects or subjects. Create a science binder that you will fill up all year long with images and projects.

Create a science storage area where the kids can access supplies when needed, but also know how to put scientific instruments away to protect them. If you have a microscope, store it in a case, or keep the microscope dust cover on it when not in use. 

Shop Carrying Cases: http://bit.ly/VFEOjM

Create hands-on experimental learning experiences at home. Make an effort to take children on after school educational outings and talk to them about their learning experiences. Reinforcing what they have learned in school is an excellent way to sharpen their skills in science. 

Shop Student Biological Microscopes: http://bit.ly/15eWdjY

For beginning science students we recommend the:

40X-1600X Digital Monocular Compound Microscope with 1.3MP Camera

On sale for $259.99 USD

Shop: http://bit.ly/YNBlAA

DIY: Slides

A great project for kids of any age is making a variety of microscope slides to view under your high power microscope.

When making temporary slides, the supplies needed are very basic:
1. blank slide
2. cover slip In order to make your slide, simply place the specimen on the slide, apply the cover slip so it lays flat, and view under the microscope.
3. When finished viewing, wash the slide in warm soapy water. The cover slip is quite thin so be careful that you don't break it during cleaning.

Creating permanent slides involves sealing your specimen within the slide so it lasts, and then labeling the slide so that years from now you remember what the sample was. You may also want to stain the slide, if so, this page offers great information on staining microscope slides.
1. Prepare the slide just as you would when making temporary slides.
2. When applying the cover slip, you will want to coat the very outer edges of the cover slip with a thin layer of clear nail polish or cement in order to permanently seal the cover slip to the slide.
3. Make sure your layer of adhesive is not too thick, as this will cause problems with not being able to focus properly on your specimen.

Fun slide making ideas!
1. Cheek cells from inside your mouth (use a Q-tip to scrape the inside of your mouth).
2. Pond water, or water from a muddy puddle.
3. Fine sand particles, sugar, salt, baking soda, a vitamin C tablet - any fine powdery substance. (If you have a polarizing filter - use it when viewing these items as well!)
4. Fabric fibers or strings. Cotton - a thin strand pulled off a cotton ball.
5. Soil from the back yard. A blade of grass or a thin section of a flower.

Adjusting Condensers

The condenser aperture diaphragm is used to control the contrast and resolution of an image. An improper setting of the condenser aperture diaphragm  can be the cause of much frustration both for teachers and students. Students may attempt to find the focus with the condenser aperture diaphragm all the way open.

Remember, an open condenser aperture diaphragm results in a low depth of field. Students may not see anything at all when working with high magnifications because the image is too dark. In this case the diaphragm is closed too much. The diaphragm should not be used to control the amount of light, but for some specimens or magnifications there may simply be no way around this especially if the lamp is not very powerful. The higher the magnification, the more need for a condenser.

Tips:

• Completely close the condenser aperture diaphragm when starting to use the microscope. 
• Rotate the low power objective into position and find the focus with the coarse focus knob. The larger depth of field and higher contrast makes it easier for the students to focus the specimen. 
• When switching to a higher magnification, the students should start to gradually open the condenser aperture diaphragm, to observe the differences in image quality. 
•  Adjust the light intensity with the dimmer to prevent glare. Students should be made aware that the condenser aperture diaphragm should be adjusted to the numerical aperture value which is printed on the objective.
• Opening the diaphragm further will not increase image quality, but may result in glare. If the sample is thick, strongly stained or pigmented then the diaphragm has to be opened to allow more light to pass through the specimen. As a consequence, the depth of field becomes smaller.
•  Use the fine focus adjustment knob to focus through the different layers of the specimen

Shop Darkfield Condensers here: http://bit.ly/16rya5k

Gem Microscopes

A gem microscope is similar to a biological or medical microscope in that it is binocular, and uses compound lenses. 

A binocular magnifying device has two eyepieces so that both eyes are used at once. This is ideal for getting a good three dimensional view. In a compound scope, there is a set of lenses close to the object being magnified and a set in the eyepieces.
With this set-up, magnification is compounded, meaning that, for example, if the objective lens is 5x and the ocular lens is 10x, the total magnification is 50X (5X x 10X).

Gem scopes differ from biological scopes in that the total maximum magnification is usually lower and there are more lighting options. 

Professional grade gem microscopes generally include:

• brightfield illumination
• darkfield illumination
• oblique fighting
• overhead lighting
• light diffusing system
• a system for immersing the object in liquid in a well for viewing
• polarizing lighting
• pivoting stone holder

Shop our selection of Jewel Gem Microscopes here.

Check out our Professional Gem Jewel Darkfield Stereo Microscope 12X-75X

On sale now for $1,244.99

Shop Microscope here

Home School Microscope Projects: Crystals

This is a great project for homeschooling because it's a fun and simple observation project that will allow students to identify various crystal shapes under a microscope. Crystal patterns come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

Supplies needed are:

1. Microscope
2. Glass Slides
3. Salts, Sugar, Lemon Juice
4. Polarizing Film

Procedure:

1. Dissolve salt in water to create saltwater.  Repeat this for other minerals you want to test. Put mixtures in clean glass slide. 

2. Let slides dry overnight until the liquid is evaporated. 

3. Observe formations at various magnification powers. Observe images in observation log. 

4. If formations are difficult to observe, you can use polarizing film. Place one piece over the light source and place the second piece over the slide on top of the stage. Adjust intensity of light illumination as needed. 

5. Observe the magnification at various powers, the film should make the crystals appear with different colors. 

6. Record all changes and observations. 

Current Event: Quantum Biology could open up path for Solar Technology

Students and researchers from the University of Chicago have recently created a synthetic compound that is similar to quantum dynamics observed in photosynthesis. This may lead to further advances in solar energy technology. Engineering quantum effects into synthesis light devices is possible in the future.

Chicago University researchers have created a small molecule that support long lived quantum coherences. 

• Coherences are the macroscopically observable behavior of quantum super-positions. 
• Superpositions are quantum mechanical concept where a single particle, such as an electron, occupies more than one state
• Photosynthetic Antennae are proteins that organize chlorophyll 

Research Results/ Summary: 
Improved efficiency in the transferring of energy from the parts of the cell that convert directly from solar energy to chemical energy. New results show that this new form of energy can be directly applied to man-made compound(s).

Tech Trends 2013

Here is a list of the Top Tech Trends for 2013:

1. Apps Become More Visible
2. Micro-Networks Rise
3. The Tablet Tipping Point
4. The Emergence of Robotic Handicraft
5. Data Ecology Becomes More Diverse
6. Human/Computer Interaction Becomes Personalized
7. Virtual Manufacturing
8. More Tech-Distruption By Nature

Featured Product: Student Microscope 40X-2000X Lab Binocular Biological Compound Microscope

A compound microscope is ideal for students majoring in bio/medical fields as well as for homeschooling and hobbyists. Compound microscopes are ideal for slide observations, which is what most students are required to examine in the classroom. Our Binocular Biological Compound Microscope is an ideal starter microscope for students and is on promotion right now for a low price of $198.99. 

This microscope is great for students because it can be easily upgraded with a digital camera, a darkfield adjustment, and slides. This microscope is easily customizable and easy to use. Compound microscopes will continue to be a crucial part of research in scientific fields. The compound microscope is still a mainstay in many fields and also is a wonderful tool for students to begin with when learning how to use these instruments in a laboratory. Their ability to provide higher magnifications and excellent resolution of a specimen makes the compound microscope an important tool for scientists and students alike.

Product features include: 

• High quality professional optical glass elements
• 45°inclined 360°swiveling binocular head
• Easy to mount electronic eyepiece (digital microscope camera)
• 8 levels of magnification: 40X-80X-100X-200X-400X-800X-1000X-2000X
• 4 achromatic objectives 
• 2 pairs of eyepieces: WF10X and WF20X
• Sliding interpupillary distance adjustment
• Ocular diopter adjustable on both eyetubes
• Variable intensity illumination
• Coaxial coarse and fine focus adjustment
• Focusing knobs on both sides
• Stage upward moving lock protects objectives and slides
• Stain-resistant double layer mechanical stage
• NA1.25 Abbe Condenser with iris diaphragm & filters
• Rack and pinion adjustment condenser
• Product GS and CE approved

Featured Product: Trinocular Zoom Stereo Microscope

This week we are featuring one of our top selling microscopes..
Our 7X-45X Trinocular Zoom Stereo Microscope with Dual Lights includes a 5.0 Megapixel Camera and software compatible with Windows XP/Vista/7. The included software can be used to make measurements on your PC. The 2592 X 1944 pixels from the USB digital camera can capture both still and live images on your computer, making this microscope ideal for live specimen analysis and laboratory observations.

This microscope includes an adjustable barlow lens that can extend the working distance up to 6.25" long and the field of view to be as wide as 2.38" long. This microscope also includes dual halogen lights with adjustable intensities.  This microscope is ideal for biological research labs, engravers, watchmakers, gemologists, jewelers, collectors, and those in electronic related industries. 

This microscope is also easily customizable as well. You can add a darkfield stage for darkfield observations. A boom stand and gooseneck light for a larger work space. You can also add different eyepieces, lights, and cameras. The possibilities are endless with the Trinocular Zoom Stereo Microscope. 

Shop Microscope now: Click here

Microscopes For Students

Buying a microscope can sometimes seem like a difficult challenge because there are so many variations of microscopes out on the market today. It is important to be mindful of your intended use and level of expertise before purchasing a student microscope. 

You don't have to be an expert to select an adequate microscope suitable for classroom and homework use. The following feature list will help you narrow down your search and give you an idea of what to look for when purchasing a student microscope.

1. Dual Focusing- Look for coarse and fine focus for a precise focal point
2. A Built in Light- Optimizes viewing of the specimen under the microscope
3. A Mechanical Stage- Allows you to move the slide horizontally and vertically to have a better look at the specimen
4. Binocular Eyepieces- to ensure you are not straining one eye trying to focus on a specimen. 

We recommend starting out with a compound microscope which can be used at higher magnifications and observe small transparent specimens. This is ideal for lab work and science courses. 

Product Recommendation:
Lab Binocular Biological Compound Microscope 40X-1600X w Halogen Light $229.99

Compound Microscopes

What's the difference between a compound and stereo microscope? Many beginners are unsure of which model to purchase due to their lack of knowledge about both types of microscopes. This article will touch on the differences between a compound microscope and a stereo microscope and discuss the main purposes of a compound microscope.

The main difference between a compound and stereo microscope are that a compound microscope is ideal for transparent specimens and a stereo microscope is ideal for denser specimens such as gems, rocks, and minerals. Compound microscopes are higher in power than a stereo microscope and have higher magnification power. Compound microscopes are suitable for use in laboratories, hospitals, and schools. 

Compound microscopes are traditional microscopes that are designed with a compound lens system. A compound microscope typically has a rotatable lens system with various objective powers. Compound microscopes are ideal for high powered specimens due to their bottom light source and need for the specimen to be on a slide. Visual observations with a compound microscope are typically two dimensional and can be observed in a number of microscopy techniques depending on the lighting method used. 

For more information visit our website at www.microscopenet.com

Advantages of Purchasing a Digital Microscope

Digital microscopes have helped simplify scientific observation and research in modern times. A digital microscope is generally a compound or stereo microscope with a built in digital camera that is compatible with a PC or TV. The images are projected onto the monitor and can even be saved as JPEG and video files on a computer. These data saving options are great for extensive research and referencing. 

The main advantage of a digital microscope, is that is is suitable for educational purposes. Many students in various fields such as biology, chemistry, and medicine can view specimens from a digital camera hooked up to their home computer. This is a great time saver and also ensures that research results are more accurate because they can cross-reference their research findings with live and still images.  Students can recall the image later to describe it in greater detail for an observation report. 

Another advantage to using a digital microscope, is that it allows for researchers and students to print images from their microscope and use them for projects and research both in the lab and in the classroom. 

For students we recommend our Digital Compound Microscope with 1.3 MP Camera. This a great starter microscope for students at a freshman and sophomore level. 

For professionals, we recommend our Trinocular Metallurgic Microscope with 2.0 MP Camera. This microscope is ideal for metallurgical and electronic industries. 

Phase Contrast Microscopy

Phase contrast microscopy is a technique that coverts phase shifts in light passing a semi-transparent specimens. Phase contrast microscopy is particularly useful for biology studies and research because it reveals molecular cell structures that may not be detectable using a bright field method. Phase changes are made possible with the separation of light from the specimen. 

Phase contrast microscopy makes it possible for biologists to study living cells and cell division as well as live video recording of living organisms. It is recommended to use a microscope with both bright field and phase contrast options, preferably with a digital camera for optimal viewing of both still and live specimens. 

Our 1600X Phase Contrast Siedentopf 3MP Digital Compound Microscope is ideal for biology students, laboratories  and researchers alike. This microscope has three viewing options along with a PC compatible software that can be used for measurements with no slide staining required.


The phase contrast kit on this microscope comes with a(n):

• phase kit condenser
• telescopic eyepiece
• four plain objectives
• eight levels of magnification

Jewel Gem Microscopes

Jewel Gem microscopes are utilized by gemologists and gem enthusiasts alike. Although correct filters and a quality refractive index fluids will allow you to identify a gemstone by their internal characteristics and optic characteristics.

A microscope useful for gemology will need to have the following properties..

• 10X-80X Magnification
• Adjustable Illumination
• Darkfield Lighting Option
• Zooming Objective Lens
• Widefield Eyepieces

Other additional features that are useful to gem identification include LED lights and gooseneck lighting for maximum work space utilization. 

Our professional gem jewel darkfield stereo microscope is ideal for commercial gemologists.Click here to view product. 

Boom Stand Stereo Microscopes

A stereo microscope is a very practical microscope and certainly a great starter microscope for students and beginners. It is ideal for dissecting or low power magnification views of specimens. 

Stereo microscopes with a boom stand are ideal for industrial inspection. Boom stand microscopes include single and dual armed stands or articulating arms usually averaging 20-50 pounds in weight. The benefits of having a microscope with an articulating arm are that you can move the microscope to just about any area of your work space for technical projects that require a larger work surface.

The main benefits of a boom stand microscope are:

• Extra work space
• Simple to use
• Increased working distance
• Increased field of view

Check out our Boom Stand 3.5-9.0X Binocular Zoom Microscope with 54 LED Light

Inverted Microscopes

Inverted Microscopes are not your conventional microscope, however, their purpose and functions are far more useful when observing live cultures and organisms. An inverted microscope differs from a conventional compound or stereo microscope because the lens is below the stage and the light source is illuminating from above instead of below the stage. Some of our inverted microscopes also have options for using a digital camera for viewing images on a TV/ PC. 

Inverted Microscopes are ideal for specimens that are larger, thick in consistency, multidimensional, or collect on the bottom of a flask or dish. Viewing techniques from an inverted microscope are extensive with bright field and polarized light observation capabilities. 

Check out our Inverted Infinity Metallurgical Microscope with 40X-400X and a 9MP Camera

Features Include:

• An Inverted Optical System
• Larger stage and extended plate for larger specimens
• Widefield Eyepieces
• A 9 MP High Resolution Digital Camera
• 30 Watt Halogen Bulbs 
• Bright Field Light Settings
• Polarized Light Settings

For more information and product specifications regarding our selection of inverted microscopes visit our website at the link here.

Polarized Microscopes

Polarized microscopes are ideal for optical mineralogy because it makes the light contrast with the background and illuminate the sample strongly. Illumination with a polarized microscope is similar to that of a brightfield illumination microscope, however a polarized microscope can also distinguish between iso and anisotropic substances. Polarized microscopes provide very detailed images that help with mineral identification and characteristic analysis.

Polarized light occurs when light is absorbed by an object such as a mineral. A polarized microscope has a polarizer and an analyzer, both which work together they cross making no light pass through the microscope. The polarizer and analyzer are key pieces to a polarized microscope. Other accessories you may be interested in purchasing for your microscope include a specialized stage, stain free objective lens, revolving nosepiece, and a compensator. 

For product information and features check out our website for a wide selection of polarized microscopes and accessories. 

Click the link to shop our selection of polarized microscopes

Darkfield Microscopes

A darkfield microscope is when the background is dark and/or blacked out and the viewed image or specimen appears brighter in color and intensity. This type of microscopy is ideal for viewing live specimens, such as bacteria and blood cell samples. We have microscopes to suit your darkfield needs in microscopy. If you already have a microscope with us we also offer microscope accessories and supplies that can be incorporated into your existing compound microscope for darkfield capabilities. You can upgrade with a higher intensity light and illuminator. 

The way a darkfield microscope works is the light from the bottom of the microscope is blocked in between the condensing lens below the stage. This blockage of light allows for light to enter from the sides of the stage. The viewer will only see the scattered fragments of light illuminating the specimen; The background will appear dark. Advantages of darkfield microscopy are that you will get quality, high contrast images using cost effective equipment.

Suggested Microscope:
40X-1600X Compound Darkfield 2MP Digital Microscope
Model No: M824-A191-C20C

This model offers binocular viewing with both darkfield and brightfield system options. It comes with a 2.0 megapixel digital camera system that allows for still and live image capturing via USB connection to a computer. This microscope also offers eight magnification settings and is idea for students, laboratory purposes, and experiments.

For more information and product features check out our selection of darkfield microscopes
Shop now: http://bit.ly/11Rl53n

Inspection Microscopes

Inspection Microscopes

Inspection microscopes offer a wide field system. Our model comes with a USB digital camera that can be used with a TV and/or computer. These microscopes are good for labs, gemologists, and engravers. They are also useful in semiconductor and manufacturing industries.

OMAX 3D Rotary Inspection Microscope

This microscope has many useful features including:

• ·         A bright LED ring light
• ·         A 360 degree panoramic view with 3-D inspection
• ·         A wide field view of specimen
• ·         A view of live and still images
• ·         A built in camera; no computer and/or TV hookup is needed

With this microscope you have many options for views and settings. You can slide the attachments in and out for a 2-D and 3-D view.  It also allows you to have live or still slide viewings of organisms.  You can also have side by side comparisons on one screen, which is ideal for lab research and observation purposes. 

Check out our 3 dimensional rotary inspection microscope with 7:1 Zoom capability

Model No: PD512VGA

Shop Now: http://bit.ly/12ZvGZn

Selecting a Stereo Microscope

To select a stereo microscope you must consider these seven factors before deciding on which one is right for you. Keep in mind your specific microscope needs and/or wants prior to making your selection. Different fields of microscopy require different setting options, magnifications, and technical pieces and added accessories. 

1. Magnification

2. Zoom power

3. Eyepieces

4. Illumination

5. Lens Quality

6. Light Source

7. Accessories

Shop Stereo Microscopes: http://bit.ly/UotSp2

Read more on selecting a Stereo Microscope: http://bit.ly/14Ao11V