Are you a passionate amateur naturalist? Would you like to record videos of the microscopic world? Detect an insect's heartbeat? Separate molecules with electricity? Extract and purify DNA . . . in your kitchen? Now you can do all these things and more with this wonderful compendium of unique and exciting projects. Gathered here, in the most comprehensive, wide-ranging collection of projects available for the amateur biologist, are some of the finest experiments from Scientific American's popular "Amateur Scientist" column. Whether you'd like to find out how to measure the metabolism of an insect, learn museum secrets for preserving plants, or discover how to teach a sow bug to navigate a maze, you'll find the project to suit your needs. Filled with experiments from a wide range of specialties, including botany, genetics, behavioral studies, cellular biology, microscopy, microbiology, and entomology, this fascinating book also contains helpful hints and clear instructions on how to build experimental apparatus using simple household materials and affordable alternatives to more expensive scientific equipment. Whether you're a student, teacher, or dedicated amateur scientist, you'll find projects here to excite your interest as well as deepen your understanding of-and appreciation for-the natural world.

The Microscope: Past and Present discusses the best methods of using microscope. This book presents a concise account of the development of this valuable tool, which is used at some time or another by almost every scientist. Comprised of seven chapters, this book begins with an overview of the factors that stimulated the rapid progress in microscopy. This text then describes the immense importance of the work of Robert Hooke in the development of optical devices for assisting the human eye. Other chapters consider the different types of compound microscopes and describe the single-lens or simple microscopes. This book discusses as well the development of the mechanical aspect of the microscope that resulted in a vast increase in the professional use of the microscope. The final chapter deals with the development of electron microscopes. This book is a valuable resource for medical students, scientists, and specialist workers in all fields of industry.

The Evolution of the Microscope covers some of the features of the history of the microscope and the rationale of the design features found in microscopes. The book discusses the first microscopes, the compound microscope in England (1650-1750), simple or single-lens microscopes, and the development of the achromatic microscope. The text also describes the microscope in Victorian times as well as the optical microscope since 1880. The search for greater resolving power such as the ultra-violet and electron microscopes is considered. Scientists and microscopists will find the book invaluable.