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The type of laboratory or function of a laboratory determines the type of analytical instruments that are found within.

When you think of a laboratory you think of microscopes, Bunsen burners and people in white coats discovering all kinds of fabulous things about science.

The world of the white coat is one that is shared with few outside of the scientist community. We the general public do not need to dirty our hands we just get to read the results in the newspapers (check out the Daily Mail on a Tuesday).

Upon further investigation I was able to find out a bit more about the laboratory scenario and one or two things about lab equipment analytical instruments. I consider whether or not the mighty microscope is the most discerning of analytical equipment within a laboratory.

But first I needed to find out more about what goes on in laboratories. No earth shattering surprises were revealed but I did learn a nice chunk of terminology.

A Physics lab differs from a Biologist’s lab or a Chemist’s lab because of the differing requirements that their subjects dictate. The use of different analytical equipment is an essential difference and the easy way to define one type of lab from another. In a Physics lab, without doubt a vacuum chamber takes pride of place as does a particle accelerator. In a Biology or Chemistry lab a wet environment is usual whereby appropriate ventilation, water and specific pipe utility equipment is essential.

An item all laboratories have in common is a computer. All data and simulations are entered into these systems and then collated and interpreted according to the objective of a specific experiment.

Aside from the commonplace lab benches and work surfaces, the common denominator of laboratories it seems, is that of the microscope. But where did it come from and how does it work?

The microscope (in essence) aids the naked human eye to see things it has no ability to do without considerable assistance. Thought to be used as early as 1590 in Middelburg, The Netherlands, the microscope was invented as a result of a collaboration by three early equivalents of the modern day optician. The microscope went on to become seriously introduced to science in 1660/70 in Italy in the discipline of Biology.

Today microscopic detail is possible in every lab worldwide and therefore a fundamental piece of analytical equipment within any laboratory.