A new "superlens" is so powerful that it could help researchers zero in on germs that were
too small for microscopes to spot until now, according to a new study.
For centuries, microscopes have helped scientists make major discoveries, such as proving the existence of microbes. However, the physical laws governing light restrict conventional lenses in an important way: They can only focus on items that are no smaller than half the wavelength of the light that is used to see these objects. This means that regular lenses in traditional optical microscopes are limited to examining items that are about 200 nanometers (or billionths of a meter) in size and above — about the size of the smallest known bacteria.
In the past decade or so, researchers have developed so-called "superlenses" that have broken this size limit. However, until now, scientists have had trouble fabricating a superlens that had the right materials and structure to work with visible light. [Magnificent Microphotography: 50 Tiny Wonders] https://www.livescience.com/55752-new-powerful-lens-for-microscopes.html
