At a crime scene, a forensic scientist will gather a variety of evidence. This could be on a large object such as clothing or on a tiny object such as a strand of hair. Some instruments are used for gathering evidence and others for analysis at a laboratory. A scanning electron microscope produces images from electrons rather than light. This can quickly analyze tiny bits of hair or clothing. Ultraviolet lights are used find and examine some evidence such as blood or other body fluids.
Meteorologists use an array of instruments to measure and forecast the weather. A barometer measures the pressure in the atmosphere and a thermometer the temperature. Rain gauges determine how much rain has fallen over a specific period of time and the Campbell Stokes Recorder measures sunshine hours in a day. Other tools include anemometers, which measure wind speed using three cups on a shaft. A hygrometer measures humidity.
The U.S. Geological Survey uses a variety of instruments strategically located around the Western United States, including Hawaii, to monitor for volcano and earthquake activity. The data is transmitted to a central location. One instrument is a creepmeter which measures displacement between two monuments on each side of the fault. Another is a magnetometer which measures changes in local magnetic fields. Tiltmeters are extremely sensitive instruments which measure ground tilt variations near fault lines.
Radiation cannot be seen, has no smell and makes no noise. However, it affects atoms that it passes and so this scientific fact can be used by instruments to detect its levels. A Geiger counter used a Geiger-Muller tube by measuring alpha particles which are ionized by radiation. Uranium darkens photographic plate, so workers in the nuclear industry will wear an adapted instrument on their protective clothing to measure exposure to radiation.