microwave

Introduction References & Edit History

Images & Videos

Are microwaves actually safe?

Diagram of the electromagnetic spectrum with labeled sections for radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays, each paired with an example use and corresponding image.

How do microwave ovens work?

A demonstration showing how microwaves heat food, based on technology developed from Raytheon's wartime magnetron research.

Understand how the electromagnetic spectrum helps study the celestial bodies

microwave: References & Edit History

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

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Article History

Type	Description	Contributor	Date
	Invalidated site: University of Liverpool - Microwave Theory and Background (PDF).	Grace Young	Oct 30, 2026
	Add new Web site: NPR - Micro Wave: The science of Microwave Ovens + Listener Mail.	Emily Rodriguez	Dec 11, 2025
	Add new Web site: Scientific Reports - Relativistic-microwave theory of ball lightning.	Gloria Lotha	Aug 22, 2025
	Add new Web site: Military Medical Research - Establishment of injury models in studies of biological effects induced by microwave radiation.	Emily Rodriguez	Apr 07, 2025
	Add new Web site: University of Liverpool - Microwave Theory and Background (PDF).	Grace Young	Jan 18, 2025
	Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Microwaves, a potential treatment for bacteria.	Emily Rodriguez	Nov 08, 2024
	Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Microwaves, a potential treatment for bacteria.	Gloria Lotha	Sep 26, 2024
	Add new Web site: University of Notre Dame - thinkND - Hitchcock, "Rear Window" (film).	Gloria Lotha	Jan 15, 2024
	Add new Web site: Harvard University - Harvard Natural Sciences Lecture Demonstrations - Microwave Properties.	Aakanksha Gaur	Dec 08, 2023
	Add new Web site: NASA Science - Microwave.	Emily Rodriguez	Oct 12, 2023
	Add new Web site: LiveScience - What Are Microwaves?	Gloria Lotha	Aug 29, 2023
	Add new Web site: Edison Tech Center - Microwave Oven.	Gloria Lotha	Feb 06, 2023
	Media added.	Michele Metych	Apr 07, 2016
	Add new Web site: Fact Monster - Science - Microwave.	Gloria Lotha	Jul 22, 2011
	Add new Web site: Buzzle.com - Microwave Radiation Dangers.	Gloria Lotha	Jul 22, 2011
	Article added to new online database.	The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica	Jul 20, 1998