Book 5, Question 118
Tiny Details! Why Use Microscopes on Old Dirt?
Old dirt can hold very small clues like tiny seeds, pollen, bits of bone, and pieces of charcoal. A microscope helps scientists see them. Those little bits can show what people ate or what plants grew nearby.
More fun facts
- A microscope is like a very powerful magnifying glass.
- The Smithsonian has three microscopes that use electrons to reveal the chemicals, textures and tiny features hidden in rocks and minerals.
- Scientists use powerful microscopes to study how ice forms on tiny particles in the air, how plants are built, and soot.
- Some microscopes use a tiny tip to feel a surface and map it out.
- Helium ion microscopes use a tiny beam made of helium instead of light.
- A slide is a thin piece of glass that holds an object under a microscope.
Sources: KidsHealth (Nemours), Smithsonian Magazine, U.S. Department of Energy, BBC
Questions kids ask
What is a microscope slide?
A thin piece of glass that holds an object so you can look at it under a microscope.