Microwave Oven
"Panasonic NN-SD69LS 20220410" — Photo by Mrbeastmodeallday / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
The quickest way to reheat yesterday’s dinner.
The microwave oven, discovered by Percy Spencer at Raytheon in 1945 when a magnetron melted a chocolate bar in his pocket. Raytheon filed a patent on 8 October 1945 and launched the first commercial unit, the Radarange, in 1947. Spencer had only a grade-school education but became one of Raytheon's most prolific engineers.
Did you know?
Spencer eventually held about 300 patents and rose to senior vice-president at Raytheon, despite never finishing primary school — he taught himself calculus, physics and chemistry from textbooks while serving in the US Navy.
A radar engineer’s chocolate bar led to a culinary revolution.
It turned a simple snack into a popping spectacle of science.
A heavy box that makes molecular friction your private chef.
It sings a digital melody when your leftovers are ready.
The standard appliance for heating food in seconds.