National Geographic Kids Microscope 40X-640X User Manual

Safety Warnings

⚠️ WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD!

This product contains small parts that could be swallowed by children, posing a choking hazard.

⚠️ RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK!

This device contains electronic components powered by a source (power supply and/or batteries). Use only as described in the manual to avoid electric shock.

⚠️ RISK OF FIRE/EXPLOSION!

Do not expose the device to high temperatures. Use only recommended batteries. Do not short-circuit or throw device/batteries into fire. Excessive heat or improper handling can cause short-circuits, fires, or explosions.

⚠️ RISK OF CHEMICAL BURN!

Ensure correct battery polarity. Damaged or leaking batteries can cause acid burns upon skin contact. Use protective gloves if necessary.

Do not disassemble the device. Contact your dealer for defects.

Tools with sharp edges are often used. Store the device and accessories out of reach of children to prevent injury.

Parts Overview

The microscope includes the following parts:

• 1. Eyepiece
• 2. Focus knob
• 3. Objective turret
• 4. Stage
• 5. On/off switch (illumination)
• 6. Electronic light source
• 7. Base with battery compartment
• 8. Battery compartment
• 9. Cover plates
• 10. Prepared slides
• 11. Reservoir
• 12. Microscope instruments
• 13. Wheel with pinhole apertures
• 14. Measuring cup
• 15. Hatchery
• 16. MicroCut
• 17. Smartphone holder

Diagram Description: The main image shows the National Geographic Kids microscope. It is black with a sturdy base containing the power switch and the National Geographic logo. The microscope features an eyepiece at the top for viewing, a focus knob on the side for adjusting sharpness, an objective turret that holds multiple lenses for different magnifications, and a stage with clips to hold specimen slides. Smaller images show how to attach a smartphone using the holder, how to place a slide on the stage, and the battery compartment on the base. Other images display the various accessories included, such as a magnifying glass, tweezers, specimen slides, sample jars, and the smartphone holder.

1. What is a Microscope?

A microscope uses two lens systems: the eyepiece and the objective. The objective lens magnifies the specimen, and the eyepiece further magnifies this image, creating the visible "microscope picture."

2. Assembly and Location

Choose a well-lit, stable location for microscopy. A shaky surface will hinder satisfactory results.

3. Normal Observation

Place the microscope in a bright area. Turn the focus knob to the upper stop and set the objective turret to the lowest magnification. Turn on the light. Place a prepared slide (10) on the stage (4) under the objective (1). Look through the eyepiece (1) and adjust sharpness with the focus knob (2). You can then select higher magnifications by rotating the objective turret. Higher magnification requires more light for good illumination. Use the aperture wheel (13) to adjust contrast for bright or clear specimens.

4. Observation (Electronic Light Source)

Insert 2 AA batteries (1.5V) into the battery compartment (8) on the base (7), ensuring correct polarity. Open the compartment with a Phillips screwdriver. Secure the cover before tightening the screw. The light turns on with the switch on the base. Observation proceeds as described in section 3.

5. Smartphone Holder

Open the flexible holder, place your smartphone securely inside, ensuring the camera is aligned with the eyepiece. Adjust the locking clip to fit the eyepiece to your smartphone camera. Retighten the clip and attach the holder to the microscope's eyepiece. Open your camera app. If the image is not centered, slightly loosen and readjust the clip. Use zoom if needed to fill the screen. A slight edge shading may occur. Remove the smartphone after use.

WARNING: Ensure the smartphone is secure. Bresser GmbH is not liable for damages from a dropped smartphone.

6. Preparing Specimens

6.1. Specimen Condition

This is a transmitted light microscope, suitable for transparent specimens. Light passes through the specimen, lens, and eyepiece. Many water organisms, plant parts, and animal components are naturally transparent. Others may require preparation, such as making thin slices (hand-cutting or using a microtome) or chemical treatment to become transparent.

6.2. Creating Thin Preparation Cuts

For best results, specimens should be sliced very thinly, often using wax or paraffin. Heat wax in a safe bowl. Dip the specimen multiple times in liquid wax, allowing it to harden. Use a MicroCut or knife to slice the wax-encased specimen thinly. Handle sharp tools with extreme care.

DANGER! Be extremely careful with hot wax (risk of burns) and sharp tools (risk of cuts).

Place the slices on a glass slide and cover with a cover glass.

6.3. Creating Your Own Preparation

Place the object on a glass slide. Add a drop of distilled water with a pipette (12). Hold a cover glass vertically at the edge of the water drop, allowing water to spread along the edge. Slowly lower the cover glass over the water drop.

7. Experiments

7.1. How to Raise Brine Shrimp

Accessories: Shrimp eggs, Sea salt, Hatchery, Yeast.

Life Cycle: Brine shrimp (Artemia salina) have a unique life cycle. Females reproduce asexually, but under certain conditions (e.g., marsh drying), males can hatch and fertilize eggs, producing resilient "winter eggs." These eggs can remain dormant for 5-10 years.

Incubation: Prepare a salt solution by dissolving half of the provided sea salt in half a liter of water. Let it stand for 30 hours. (A second container of water for evaporation replacement is recommended). Add a few eggs to the solution in a bright location, avoiding direct sunlight. The temperature should be around 25°C. Hatching occurs in 2-3 days. If water evaporates, add water from the second container.

Observation: The hatched larvae are called "nauplius larvae." Place them on a slide with a pipette and observe their movement. Mature larvae appear in 6-10 weeks.

Feeding: Feed sparingly with dry yeast powder every two days. If the water turns dark, it indicates spoilage; transfer shrimp to fresh salt solution.

Warning! Shrimp eggs and shrimp are not for consumption.

7.2. Textile Fibers

Procedure: Place threads (cotton, linen, wool, silk, etc.) on a slide, fray them with needles, add a drop of water, and cover with a cover glass. Observe under low magnification.

Observations:

• Cotton: Plant origin, flat, twisted band, thicker/rounder edges, collapsed tubes.
• Linen: Plant origin, round, straight lines, shiny, swellings.
• Silk: Animal origin, solid fibers, smaller diameter than plant fibers, smooth, glass rod appearance.
• Wool: Animal origin, overlapping scales, broken/wavy surface. Compare fibers from different mills.
• Rayon: Artificial, hard dark lines on smooth surface, crinkles when dry.

Observe similarities and differences.

Maintenance and Disposal

Cleaning

Disconnect power before cleaning. Use only a dry cloth for exterior cleaning. Avoid cleaning fluids. Protect from dust and moisture. Remove batteries if not in use for a long time.

Disposal

Dispose of packaging materials properly. Do not dispose of electronic devices in household waste. Recycle used electronics. Dispose of batteries at designated collection points. Batteries containing toxins are marked with symbols (Cd, Hg, Pb).

Warranty and Service

The regular warranty is 2 years from purchase. Register on the website for extended warranty. Full terms are available at www.bresser.de/warranty_terms.

Declarations of Conformity

Information regarding EU and UKCA Declarations of Conformity and links to full texts are provided on the Bresser website.