Final answer:
Electron microscopes offer higher resolution than visible light microscopes due to the shorter wavelengths of electrons, allowing greater magnification but precluding the observation of living cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
Electron microscopes have better resolution than visible light microscopes primarily because they use a beam of electrons with much shorter wavelengths than the photons used in light microscopy. The shorter wavelengths allow electron microscopes to resolve finer structural details, reaching a higher magnification. However, the preparation process for viewing specimens using an electron microscope is lethal to living cells, and the microscope operates in a vacuum to allow electrons to move unimpeded, making it impossible to view living cells.