Who invented the solar microscope that provided the possibility of viewing germs in the seventeenth century?

The invention of the solar microscope, which allowed for the observation of microorganisms such as germs, is attributed to Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. He was a pioneering scientist in the field of microscopy and made significant contributions to the study of microorganisms. In the seventeenth century, Leeuwenhoek crafted simple yet effective microscopes that utilized lenses he created himself. His innovations permitted him to observe and describe a vast range of microorganisms, including bacteria and protozoa, which were previously invisible to the naked eye.

Other figures mentioned in the choices—like Pasteur, Hooke, and Fleming—made important contributions to microbiology and science but in different contexts. Pasteur is known for his work on germ theory and vaccination, Hooke is celebrated for his studies on plant cells and the term "cell," and Fleming is recognized for discovering penicillin. However, it was Leeuwenhoek's particular advancements in microscopy that laid the groundwork for later research on germs, making his contributions crucial to the development of microbiology.