The Secret History of Charles Darwin’s 200-Year-Old Microscope

"On The Origin of Species" is one of the most influential and controversial books of our times: Written by the naturalist, geologist, and biologist Charles Darwin, who explained his theories of evolution by natural selection, it was published in 1859, and it's still considered to be one of the most important works of scientific study ever published.

When Darwin was not working on his theories, writing them down, or publish his findings, he would conduct extensive studies through his microscopes, fine-tuning his botanical knowledge. The first microscope he used was put under the hammer in December, and in this video by The Guardian, you can learn the importance of his historic object, how it came to be discovered, and why it was so important in Darwin's research. 

The microscope was sold on 15 December 2021, achieving a record GBP 598,500 ($791,816), and the auctioneer noted that the microscope was one of the most interesting deals they had ever witnessed, with collectors lining up to submit their bids. If you want to learn more, make sure you watch the video embedded above, and as always, enjoy.