Editing Microscopy (section)

{{Short description|Viewing of objects which are too small to be seen with the naked eye}}
{{distinguish|Microscopic|Microscope (disambiguation){{!}}Microscope}}
[[File:Misc_pollen_colorized.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Scanning electron microscope]] image of [[pollen]] (false colors)]]
[[File:Microscopic observation, Микроскопирање.jpg|thumb|250px|Microscopic examination in a biochemical laboratory]]

'''Microscopy''' is the technical field of using [[microscope]]s to view subjects too small to be seen with the [[naked eye]] (objects that are not within the resolution range of the normal eye).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ed.ac.uk/clinical-sciences/edinburgh-imaging/for-patients-study-participants/tell-me-more-about-my-scan/what-is-microscopy|title=What is Microscopy?|last=The University of Edinburgh|date=March 6, 2018|website=The University of Edinburgh|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-date=April 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410072152/https://www.ed.ac.uk/clinical-sciences/edinburgh-imaging/for-patients-study-participants/tell-me-more-about-my-scan/what-is-microscopy|url-status=live}}</ref> There are three well-known branches of microscopy: [[optical microscope|optical]], [[electron microscope|electron]], and [[scanning probe microscopy]], along with the emerging field of [[X-ray microscopy]].{{cn|date=June 2022}}

Optical microscopy and electron microscopy involve the [[diffraction]], [[reflection (physics)|reflection]], or [[refraction]] of [[electromagnetic radiation]]/electron beams interacting with the [[Laboratory specimen|specimen]], and the collection of the scattered radiation or another signal in order to create an image. This process may be carried out by wide-field irradiation of the sample (for example standard light microscopy and [[transmission electron microscope|transmission electron microscopy]]) or by scanning a fine beam over the sample (for example [[confocal laser scanning microscopy]] and [[scanning electron microscopy]]). [[Scanning probe microscopy]] involves the interaction of a scanning probe with the surface of the object of interest. The development of microscopy revolutionized [[biology]], gave rise to the field of [[histology]] and so remains an essential technique in the [[life sciences|life]] and [[physical science]]s. X-ray microscopy is three-dimensional and non-destructive, allowing for repeated imaging of the same sample for [[in situ]] or 4D studies, and providing the ability to "see inside" the sample being studied before sacrificing it to higher resolution techniques. A 3D X-ray microscope uses the technique of computed tomography ([[X-ray microtomography|microCT]]), rotating the sample 360 degrees and reconstructing the images. CT is typically carried out with a flat panel display. A 3D X-ray microscope employs a range of objectives, e.g., from 4X to 40X, and can also include a flat panel.