While bacteria are not new, humans' discovery of them was somewhat recent. Who was the first person actually to see bacteria? That was a cloth merchant named Anton van Leeuwenhoek, from Holland. No, he did not have Superman eyes. One day, Leeuwenhoek was improving magnifying lenses, so he could better evaluate a cloth's weave. For whatever reason, he using one of his outstanding lenses, to examine some drops of pond water. The itty-bitty microbes that Leeuwenhoek saw moving around the water, changed medical history forever.

SMALL CRITTERS MAKE SMALL IMPACT

Throughout the late 1970s, Leeuwenhoek then sent several meticulous sketches to London's Royal Society. These sketches included smaller organisms with single cells, as well as "larger" types of bacteria.

In retrospect, we would probably assume that Leeuwenhoek's discovery would quickly revolutionize the world of science and medicine. That never happened. For nearly two centuries, the world at large perceived his finding as fascinating, though irrelevant. Perhaps the problem was that people could not truly value things that seemed to be as significant in their day-to-day lives, as the number of stars in the universe.

SEMMELWEIS AND THE GERM THEORY

Arguably the scientific and medical world did not value Leeuwenhoek's work, until the link between bacteria and the transfer of diseases, was discovered. However, prior to the development of the Germ Theory of disease, an Austran named Ignaz Semmelweis discovered something significant. He observed that doctors' failing to wash their hands resulted in more fatalities in a maternity hospital. Although hygienic cheap urbane scrubs were not available yet, Semmelweis suggested that doctors wear different clothes in the hospital, than when they conducted autopsies.

Although Semmelweis's theory about bacteria impacting the spread of diseases-was correct. His theories were quite unpopular, during his lifetime. In fact, he lost various positions due to them, while the medical world labeled him as insane.

GOT PASTEURIZED MILK?

Though he never lived to see his theories verified, Louis Pastuer and Robert Koch would make Semmelweis a prophet. They provided solid evidence that a link between bacteria and transmittable diseases, indeed existed. This eventually became the "germ theory" Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, when they conducted many important experiments. Pastuer developed pasteurization, which involved boiling to destroy bacteria and lengthen the life of the food. Meanwhile, Koch proved that a type of bacterium caused anthrax, a disease.

THE GERM THEORY AND THE LISTERINE GUY

The works of John Snow was significant in verifying the Germ Theory. He revealed how bacteria could spread after impurities seeped into water that Britons used for drinking and cooking. His work resulted in more sanitary hospitals, and water systems. Meanwhile, Joseph Lister, for whom Listerine is named, created antiseptics to reduce infections during surgeries.

From the discovery of bacteria to understanding the link between bacteria and diseases, the work of several bold researchers, has resulted in a better understanding of the microscope world of bacteria. Today, various techniques, such as the wearing of scrubs, can effectively prevent bacteria from spreading. Germ Theory has become germ fact!