Foldscope is the paper microscope that began as an idea to make science more accessible. That idea has grown into a company that now delivers low-cost tools around the world! Foldscope has reached over 1.6 million people with our foldable paper microscopes, and we have created an online community of explorers unlike any other.
Foldscope combines low-cost materials with precision optics to create inexpensive microscopes that are affordable for communities worldwide. With a magnification of 140X, Foldscope can visualize tiny things like bacteria and microorganisms as well as larger samples like insects, plants, fabrics, and tissues. Foldscope can also attach to mobile phones for imaging. This portable microscope is also waterproof. With that versatility, the possibilities are endless!
Visit About PageThere is a Foldscope kit for everyone. We offer foldable paper microscopes in a variety of configurations — ranging from individual kits packed with microscopy accessories, to classroom kits that provide the largest number of Foldscopes for the lowest price. Visit our store to learn how you can get the most out of your Foldscope experience.
Visit Our StoreThe best part of Foldscope is not the tool itself, but the people who use it. Foldscope has an official app and an online platform called the Microcosmos, where Foldscope users share their explorations. All of Foldscope’s community spaces are free, open, and user-driven. Discover what other curious Foldscopers are up to!
Visit Community PageWhatever it is, the Foldscope Team is here to help. Visit our Resources page for a variety of content designed to help you assemble and use your Foldscope paper microscope. Check out our user-guide, lesson plans, tutorials, translated instructions, and more.
Visit Resources PageThe New Yorker interview of Manu Prakash on the Foldscope Beta Version in December, 2015.
Manu Prakash delivers a TED talk on Foldscope, including a live demonstration. credit: TED.
Imagine the wonders of the microscopic world - see them through the lens of a Foldscope.
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