In 1676, Dutch microscopist Antoni van Leeuwenhoek became the first person to observe and describe microorganisms, including bacteria and protozoa, using his handcrafted lenses. His pioneering work laid the foundation for microbiology, revolutionizing the understanding of life at the microscopic level. Van Leeuwenhoek's discoveries opened new avenues for scientific inquiry and had lasting implications for medicine and biology.

The discovery of an invisible microbial world expanded the poetic imagination of what lay beneath the surface of nature; Romantic and later poets drew on microscopic wonder as a counterpoint to the sublime. Poets like John Keats and later, contemporary writers, have used this imagery to explore the interconnectedness of life.