The discovery of the microwave

Letters from Albert - 1945 in the USA

Hello my friend living in the future,

I've just witnessed something amazing, and I couldn't wait to tell you about it. Imagine being in a room filled with gadgets and scientific equipment, and suddenly, a regular day turns into the backdrop for an accidental yet groundbreaking invention that’ll change the lives of millions of people. That's exactly what happened when Percy Spencer discovered the microwave.

Let me paint the picture: It's 1945, and I'm sitting around in the Raytheon Corporation labs, where Percy, an engineer who's pretty clever despite never having formal training, is fiddling with a magnetron. These are the things they used in radar equipment during the war to send out radio waves.

Here's where it gets interesting. Percy had a chocolate bar in his pocket, just a regular snack, and it started melting. Not because it was hot in the room, but because of the radar waves coming from the magnetron. This odd little incident got Percy thinking, and he decided to experiment a bit more.

Next, he tried popping some popcorn with the radar waves, and it worked! The popcorn started popping all over the place. Then, he moved on to an egg, which ended up exploding, making a bit of a mess but proving his point. Percy realized that these microwaves from the radar could actually cook food, and fast!

From these experiments, the idea of the microwave oven was born. Percy figured out how to make a machine that could cook food quickly using microwaves. It was quite the invention, turning a complex scientific principle into a kitchen appliance that would end up in homes around the world.

It's fascinating to think about how a melted chocolate bar in someone's pocket led to such a convenient way to heat and cook food. It goes to show you never know when or how the next big discovery will happen.

Anyway, I thought you'd enjoy this little piece of history. It's a reminder that sometimes, the best inventions come about by accident, and a little curiosity can go a long way.

Until next time, where and whenever that might be,

🧳

Albert

Your time-traveling uncle