Full Idea
Van Leeuwenhoek first stared at a drop of seemingly empty water with a microscope in 1676 and discovered in was teeming with life.
Gist of Idea
In 1676 it was discovered that water is teeming with life
Source
Lawrence M. Krauss (A Universe from Nothing [2012], 04)
Book Reference
Krauss,Lawrence M.: 'A Universe from Nothing' [Simon and Schuster 2012], p.66
A Reaction
I am convinced that this had a huge influence on Leibniz's concept of monads. He immediately became convinced that it was some sort of life all the way down. He would be have been disappointed by the subsequent chemical reduction of life.
Related Idea
Idea 19422 Every particle of matter contains organic bodies [Leibniz]