Although a laboratory might seem like just another type of room, it is actually quite complex. Various pieces of equipment enable scienhumidity controlled rooms complete their experiments safely and with precision. Of course, the range and complexity of different types of laboratory equipment will vary depending on the field and the type of research being done. That said, there are some common pieces of laboratory furniture and equipment shared among most scientific research.

Humidity Controlled Rooms

One essential part of a laboratory is its humidity controlled rooms. These rooms ensure that air temperature, as well as humidity, remains within certain parameters. This helps to protect delicate samples and experiments, as well as allow them to be conducted in a safe environment free from pollutants or contaminants in the air. By controlling the environment, the outcome of experiments is more reliable — providing fewer variables for scientists to take into account.

Incubators and Centrifuges

Another common type of laboratory equipment are incubators and centrifuges. Incubators provide a consistent environment for growing bacteria and other microorganisms, by controlling the temperature and humidity. Centrifuges, on the other hand, are machines used to separate different components of a solution based on their weight. This is useful for separating proteins and DNA molecules, as well as for removing debris from cells.

These two pieces of equipment are essential to any laboratory and are used widely across many fields of study, including biology, chemistry, and medicine.

Microscope

A microscope is also essential to most laboratories. There are several types of microscopes, including stereo and compound microscopes, which can magnify objects up to thousands of times their actual size. Microscopes allow scientists to view objects that would otherwise be imperceptible to the human eye, such as cell structures or bacteria colonies.

Today, advanced technologies such as electron microscopy are used to achieve even higher levels of magnification and resolution, allowing scientists to study objects with unprecedented detail.

Balances, Scales, and Hot Plates

Balances and scales are yet more important pieces of laboratory equipment, and are used to measure mass with accuracy and precision. Depending on the model, these will typically have accuracy of up to 1/1000th of a gram — an incredible level of accuracy that allows researchers to get detailed and accurate data from their experiments.

Additionally, hot plates are sometimes used to conduct chemical reactions and to heat samples. The temperature of these can be precisely regulated and adjusted, ranging from gentle warming all the way up to high temperatures used for boiling liquids or burning materials.

The Array of Laboratory Equipment

As you can see, laboratories require a wide array of sophisticated equipment in order to properly conduct experiments. From humidity-controlled rooms to complex pieces of technology such as microscopes and balances, this equipment enables scientists to study the world around us and make discoveries that could change our lives.

With new technologies emerging every day, the possibilities for scientific exploration are endless. Laboratories are where these explorations begin — taking us one step closer to understanding the natural world and unlocking the secrets of our universe.