The object
Manu Prakash co-invented and co-founded Foldscope, a foldable paper microscope designed to make microscopy inexpensive and widely distributable. Stanford documents the physical instrument’s use in disease research and education, while a 2025 interview identifies Prakash as a Stanford professor and Foldscope Instruments co-founder.
01
What Manu did
Co-invented and co-founded Foldscope, an ultra-low-cost foldable paper microscope.
02
Why it matters
Foldscope turned a microscope into a low-cost printed physical instrument, expanding access to observation and basic diagnostic or educational microscopy.
03
Living-status check
A 19 March 2025 Stanford interview records Prakash’s current professorship, active lab, and Foldscope co-founder role.