What is an electron microscope? An Electron microscope is an advanced scientific instrument that uses electrons to produce highly magnified images of objects at a very high resolution. Unlike light microscopes, which use photons of light to produce an image, electron microscopes use a beam of electrons to illuminate the object being studied. The two main types of electron microscopes are transmission electron microscopes (TEM) and scanning electron microscopes (SEM). TEMs use a beam of electrons to pass through a thin sample, producing an image of the internal structure of the sample. SEMs, on the other hand, use a beam of electrons to scan the surface of a sample, producing a highly detailed, three-dimensional image. Electron microscopes have revolutionized many fields of science, including biology, materials science, and nanotechnology, allowing scientists to study the structure and properties of materials and biological samples at the atomic and molecular levels. They are widely used in research, industry, and medicine, and have contributed to many important discoveries and technological advancements.