Was a microwave invented by accident?

Some inventions have amazing stories behind, so does the microwave - a thing we can't live without today. In the 1940's Percy Spencer noticed his chocolate bar melted in his pocket after standing in front of an active radar set working on magnetrons. Percy, being an expert in radar tube designing, decided to conduct an experiment. He ended up creating a high density electromagnetic field in a metal box. Thus, this metal box now heats up our burritos today thankfully to Percy Spencer.

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140 Comments

cgrhm

I wouldn't say it was an accident. I would say it was sheer intelligence and ingenuity.

Lesley

That's really cool.

Player

Good trivia question.

dairy avidw

A chocolate bar will melt in your pocket, without microwaves.

Teryann58 Mapes

Very 😎 cool

darlene krawiec

Fun! Nailed it too. And yes I remember life before the microwave..

Leona

Heck I still remember hearing the story of when the vectrola came out from my parents. Learning about the history of the microwave makes me feel old because that was the newest and easiest thing when I was a kid, before the easy bake oven, that is. I learned from that before I learned how to use a microwave.