Microscopes for real people

roymond · Post by **roymond** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:33 pm

So I took my son to the NYC Hall of Science out in Queens, which is an awesome place. They have a group of wonderful microscopes that work, unlike 99% of the binocular microscopes we all struggled with in school. These have a single large viewing lens that produced a great image. Not 1000x or anything but totally cool for simple microbes.

Does anyone know where to get these or how many billions of dollars they cost? I'd love to get one of these for the kids but I can't find any on the web (or Google doesn't want me to find one).

fluffy · Post by **fluffy** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:55 pm

Well, I don't know about those models in particular, but Amazon has quite a few microscopes, from entry-level ones to professional lab ones.

Also check Edmund Scientific (specifically on the <a href="http://sciencekit.com/">Science Kit</a> side but <a href="http://scientificsonline.com/">their main catalog</a> might also be useful for other things).

The selection at Amazon looks much better than the one at Edmund, which I guess isn't too surprising. ES used to be the big 'scientific discovery' clearinghouse but now they've kind of turned into Sharper Image, complete with quack homeopathy stuff and magnetic bracelets and so forth.

roymond · Post by **roymond** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:18 pm

Cool. Thanks, Fluffy. I don't find anything like them there. I've emailed the science center to ask their microbes program person.

Caravan Ray · Post by **Caravan Ray** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:29 pm

This won't help at all, but I found the name of this model amusing all the same.

(and no, I don't wish to explain why I was googling the term "dick microscope")

fluffy · Post by **fluffy** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 1:07 pm

Caravan Ray, you always make me feel like I'm twelve years old again.

Post by **Spud** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 2:48 pm

Funny, he makes me feel old. Like HE's 12 years old.

roymond · Post by **roymond** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:54 pm

I thought he was 16, since he is married:

The marriageable age in Australia is 18 years for both men and women. Marriage of somebody who is 16 years but less then 18 years is possible only if the person they are marrying is 18 years or older.

But apparently you can marry someone if they're dead and if you have their death certificate:

If either person has been married before, that person must show the celebrant proof that they are free to remarry. That proof is usually a decree nisi of dissolution of marriage that has become absolute or a death certificate.

Oh, that's if they were married previously...picky picky picky

drë · Post by **drë** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:24 pm

I’m pretty sure caravan ray is married. Who do you really think was googling "dick microscope" ?

roymond · Post by **roymond** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 5:20 pm

drë wrote:I’m pretty sure caravan ray is married. Who do you really think was googling "dick microscope" ?

His wife?

Märk · Post by **Märk** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:33 pm

"Dick Microscope" sounds like a film-noir detective.

Caravan Ray · Post by **Caravan Ray** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:35 am

I think there is a very good chance that "Swift" Dick Microscope may be entering a song this week

Caravan Ray · Post by **Caravan Ray** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:37 am

roymond wrote:
drë wrote:I’m pretty sure caravan ray is married. Who do you really think was googling "dick microscope" ?
His wife?

You forgot to explicitly spell out your punchline Dre. Lucky Roymond was here to help!

UnDesirable · Post by **UnDesirable** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:03 am

I bought one these for my daughter a couple of years ago

http://www.playdigitalblue.com/digital_blue/qx5.html

roymond · Post by **roymond** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:13 am

UnDesirable wrote:I bought one these for my daughter a couple of years ago

http://www.playdigitalblue.com/digital_blue/qx5.html

And how did it work out? Does she use it? Does it produce good images? Thanks for the link.

UnDesirable · Post by **UnDesirable** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 3:23 pm

She used it a little bit but lost interest as she got older. She is 12 right now and more interested in hanging out at the mall with her friends. I get it out every once in awhile and mess with it. Here are some pictures I took of a penny today
http://www.undesirablemusic.com/images/ ... nny10x.jpg
http://www.undesirablemusic.com/images/ ... nny60x.jpg
http://www.undesirablemusic.com/images/ ... y200x2.jpg
These are the size pictures it takes. It has a setting for lighting from above or lighting from below. It's power by the USB so it doesn't need batteries. You need a light touch for the focus.

Microscopes are fun to play with no matter how old you are.

drë · Post by **drë** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 5:10 pm

UnDesirable wrote: Microscopes are fun to play with no matter how old you are.

I agree, but I’m personally waiting till they come out with an USB powered electron microscope, before getting one.
It’s going to be sweet!

JonPorobil · Post by **JonPorobil** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:15 am

My Grade Nine Biology teacher had a microscope that I believe was USB powered, and he had it hooked up to the classroom TV. It was a handheld doohickey with a small LED right in front of the lens. He pushed the lens right into his thumb, and we all watched as his pores opened up in response to the light and heat from it. It was pretty cool. But I was, at the time, at a private school, so it probably cost a bundle.

roymond · Post by **roymond** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 7:02 pm

I spoke with Bob Wentz today, maker of the Wentzscope I was looking for. They're $2500 each, but the ones at the museum were his first installs, 20 years ago, and they all work great after millions of people using them. Very cool though. I will be ordering one of the USB scopes, so thanks folks for the links.