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用在軍事領域中的，直到有一天，科學家發現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, themagnetron, 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 topinpointthe 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 ahankeringfor 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）