Science Geeks: Functional LEGO Microscope Inspired By Old X-Pod Sets

I really do believe that anything can be created out of LEGO bricks. It doesn’t matter what it is, there will always be a LEGO artist in the world who will take on the challenge. Here on Bit Rebels, we’ve featured the most incredible LEGO builds in the world over the past four years. After seeing all those builds, I’ve developed even more respect for those bricks that so many of us grew up with. I’m dedicating this microscope build to all of our readers who are science geeks.

Science geeks probably have experience with microscopes, but this particular microscope is unlike any other you have seen. It’s completely made out of LEGO, and it’s functional! It’s inspired by the LEGO X-Pod sets, which are now discontinued. Lego artist Carl Merriman thought the pod from the X-Pod set looked like a petri dish, and from that idea, this LEGO microscope was born.

He added a magnifying glass, a fiber optic light and a few other goodies to make it functional. It can bring things in and out of focus, just like a real microscope. I can think of so many science geeks who would love one of these. I am still amazed every time I write about someone who can look at a pile of LEGO bricks on the floor and envision something like this being built from it. I wonder if he made a diagram before he started.

Carl has been creating LEGO builds for about 27 years. According to his website, he would have stopped when he turned 14, but that was the year that the Star Wars sets were released. Needless to say, he’s been hooked ever since. You can view more pictures of his builds here on Flickr. I love this!