Foldscope: Paper Microscope that costs less than $1
An Ultra Low-Cost, "Print & Fold", Origami-Based Paper Microscope To Diagnose Diseases.
Foldscope is an optical paper microscope. Although it costs less than $1 in parts, it can provide over 2,000X magnification with sub-micron resolution (800nm), weighs less than two nickels (8.8 g), is small enough to fit in a pocket (70×20×2mm3), requires no external power, and can survive being dropped from a 3-story building or stepped on by a person. Its minimalistic, scalable design is inherently application-specific instead of general-purpose, gearing towards applications in global health & field based citizen science. Apart from being an ultra-affordable means to detect/diagnose diseases, Foldscope also acts as an ultra-affordable and extremely accessible educational tool. With a 'Less than $1 Microscope', Manu Prakash has made Science Education extremely reachable & approachable to every science enthusiast worldwide, from researching adults in developing countries to K-12 students in the cities & even in villages perhaps, that too in an extremely fun & hands-on experimental way.