Health & biology · 1676
Microorganisms discovered
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek saw swarming animalcules in pond water and dental plaque.
With single-lens microscopes magnifying about 270 times, Leeuwenhoek reported bacteria and protists to the Royal Society in 1676. He revealed an entire invisible living world, two centuries before it was linked to disease.
What it built on 1
What it led to 3
Related measurements
The dashed line marks when it first worked.
Life expectancy in the UK since 1543 Latest: 81.3 years (2023) Source: Our World in Data
Child mortality (under 5) Latest: 3.74 % (2024) Source: Our World in Data