What type of microscope provides the highest magnification and resolution?

The electron microscope is the type of microscope that provides the highest magnification and resolution. This is because it uses a beam of electrons instead of visible light to illuminate the specimen. Electrons have much shorter wavelengths than visible light, which allows for much greater detail to be observed. This high resolving power can reveal structures inside cells or the surface of small organisms that would be impossible to distinguish using light-based microscopy methods.

In contrast, light microscopes, including compound microscopes, are limited by the wavelengths of visible light, restricting their magnification and resolution. Fluorescence microscopes, while capable of specific imaging of fluorescing molecules within cells, still fall short of the resolution levels achieved by electron microscopes. Thus, the use of electrons enables the electron microscope to surpass the capabilities of other types, making it the preferred choice for observing fine structural details at the nanoscale.