Contrary to popular opinion, electron microscopes are not used to look at electrons. They are used to look for structure in things that are too small to observe with an optical microscope, or to obtain images that are magnified much more than is obtainable with an optical microscope. To understand how electron microscopes work, it will help to go over how people, in fact, "see" things in everyday life. This column provides background science information for elementary teachers. In this month's issue the electron microscope is explained.