Thanks to the contributions of scientist Robert Hooke, the world was introduced to cells. Other scientists such as Theodor Schwann, Matthias Schleiden, and Rudolph Virchow added vital information to early cell theory. Schwann and Schleiden determined that all plants and animals were made of cells. Rudolph Virchow learned that all cells come from other cells.
An important piece of equipment was used in the discovery of cells. The microscope provided scientists with a magnified view of cells and cellular structure. As time progressed, so has the power and functionality of microscopes. Today, the most powerful microscopes can observe single atoms.