微波爐實在是個方便好用的工具，尤其是對上班族來說，做飯變成了簡單又快捷的事。但你可能不知道，微波最初的研究是應(yīng)用在軍事領(lǐng)域中的，直到有一天，科學(xué)家發(fā)現(xiàn)他口袋中的巧克力被微波的熱量熔化了……
In 1946, Dr. Percy Spencer, an engineer for the
Raytheon Company, pulled the idea for the microwave oven right out of his
pocket.
An invention of Raytheon Company scientists Sir John Randall and Dr. H.A.
Boot, the magnetron, provided Dr.
Spencer with both the most critical component of the microwave oven, and created
the accident that led to its discovery.
The magnetron the two Birmingham University scientists were charged with
inventing during World War II provided the Allies with the means to
pinpoint the exact locations of Nazi
war machines and arsenals, as the magnetron produced microwaves which radar then
bounced off of these weapons of destruction, and back to the Allies.
Testing using the magnetron continued in the post-war years, and Dr. Spencer,
in the midst of performing one of these tests, made a logical connection, which
gave birth to the microwave oven. While performing such a test, Doc Spencer had
a hankering for the chocolate bar he
had stashed in his pocket. He eagerly reached into his pocket, only to discover
chocolate sauce. Percy reasoned that the culprit responsible for the melted mass
of chocolate was not his body heat, but his proximity to the heat-producing
magnetron.
In true scientific fashion, Dr. Spencer decided to put his
theory to the test, and sent for a bag of corn. He placed the corn in front of
the magnetron tube and watched as the kernels popped into the air, and rained
down upon the floor. Still dissatisfied with the amount of data he had
collected, the good doctor decided to perform one more test to solidify his
theory. To add more drama to his next act, he chose to cook an egg, which, when
placed in front of the magnetron tube, summarily blew up in the face of an
on-looking colleague.
Raytheon deemed these data conclusive, and launched an effort to produce the
first microwave oven. The mammoth microwave oven they created bore the name
Radar Range, in honor of the magnetron's service to this country during wartime.
Sales of the large appliance in the 1940s were virtually nil, with the exception
of sales to the military and to restaurants.
In 1952, Tappan introduced a home use model, selling at a mere $1,295.00, and
sales of microwaves increased. Today, the compact versions of the original Radar
Range, carrying much lower price tags, are standard in most homes, and almost
everyone can afford to enjoy microwave popcorn from a bag, not from off of the
floor!
magnetron 磁電管
pinpoint 精確、查明
hankering 渴望
（英語點津 Annabel 編輯）
