Scientists have managed to create an origami microscope that achieves 2,100x magnification, providing a resolution of about 0.7 microns and only costs R10.66.
The foldscope can be made in about 10 minutes from a lens, a battery, an LED, and other miscellaneous parts, according to PloS One.
"Imagine every child walking around the park, exploring the microcosmos in ways they have never experienced before," one of the scientists behind the paper microscope Manu Prakash at Stanford University told Popular Mechanics.
"I am fascinated with the idea of what happens to the world when every single kid carries a microscope in his or her pocket. That is our vision, and we are trying to enable that."
Apparently the foldscope is incredibly light and can survive rough handling - including being stepped on.
"We have marine biologists interested in looking at larvae in the ocean, microfossil hunters making new discoveries, epidemiologists counting schistosomiasis infections in snails in the field, bee researchers trying to identify pathogens on bees, avian-disease experts looking at malaria in birds—all kinds of things," Prakash told the engineering magazine.
Do you want to make one? You can see blue-prints for the device below.
(A) CAD layout of Foldscope paper components on an A4 sheet. (B) Schematic of an assembled Foldscope illustrating panning, and (C) cross-sectional view illustrating flexure-based focusing. (D) Foldscope components and tools used in the assembly, including Foldscope paper components, ball lens, button-cell battery, surface-mounted LED, switch, copper tape and polymeric filters. (E) Different modalities assembled from colored paper stock. (F) Novice users demonstrating the technique for using the Foldscope. (G) Demonstration of the field-rugged design, such as stomping under foot.
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