Build a digital microscope from a webcam
![](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/nUkVuq_3p0622Z1dkrDrYg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTUyOQ--/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/aqFzhnIoZFBE40Lxy_X6lg--~B/aD0zMzA7dz00NDA7YXBwaWQ9eXRhY2h5b24-/https://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/12/12-17-07-usb-webcam-sm.jpg)
Sure, it won't get you live 3D representations of living cells, but this little USB microscope mashup over at Instructables should nab you some sweet pics of up-close detail with a minimum of effort. You can pull it off with basically any simple webcam -- the one pictured here cost $5 -- and toy microscope, but you'll have to a little creative wiresplicing to get the white LED light source powered off USB as well. Still, it's a neat project if you've got the time -- now get to work!