We leverage dual-faceted optical manipulation - manipulation by light and manipulation of light - in spectroscopy and microscopy to reveal biological structures and functions with high sensitivity, resolution, and speed. Standard optical microscopy, enhanced with optical rotation and machine learning, enables volumetric imaging and accurate classification of organisms. An adhesion frequency assay utilizing optical manipulation offers comprehensive profiling of cell-cell interactions. Chiroptical spectroscopy, combined with optical manipulation, allows for label-free ultrasensitive enantiodiscrimination of chiral molecules. These advancements push the boundaries of optical measurement, opening new avenues for life sciences, space life detection, pharmaceutical quality control, and disease diagnosis.