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Microwave Fun

Smitty825 writes "Have some spare time to kill? Want to be a scientist? Then try some Microwave Experiments! (Disclaimer...could be dangerous.)"

45 comments

  1. Metal Objects by scumbucket · · Score: 1, Funny

    And I thought puting metal objects in the microwave was the only way to have fun. That and my sister's new kitten.......

    --
    CMDRTACO CHECK YOUR EMAIL!
    1. Re:Metal Objects by PD · · Score: 5, Funny

      Ahh yes, that reminds me of the time that I discovered that a kitten makes a poor antenna for an 802.11b connection, unless you need a vaguely kitty-shaped coverage footprint.

    2. Re:Metal Objects by WolfWithoutAClause · · Score: 1

      It went to sleep on the aerial huh?

      --

      -WolfWithoutAClause

      "Gravity is only a theory, not a fact!"
    3. Re:Metal Objects by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who is metal? And to what does he object?

    4. Re:Metal Objects by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You must be one of those drama kids who still thinks that grabbing on to a light post and hanging on sideways, saying, "sure is windy," is funny.

    5. Re:Metal Objects by NaDrew · · Score: 1
      Ahh yes, that reminds me of the time that I discovered that a kitten makes a poor antenna for an 802.11b connection, unless you need a vaguely kitty-shaped coverage footprint.
      My cats prove this every day. Usually by insisting on curling up in my lap and thus covering the WiFi card's antenna with fur.
      --
      Vista:XPSP2::ME:98SE
    6. Re:Metal Objects by objekt · · Score: 1

      I was wondering how long it would take for someone to make a joke about hurting small animals.

      --
      -- Boycott Shell
  2. Fun in the workplace with microwaves! by Ophidian+P.+Jones · · Score: 1, Redundant

    My sister-in-law works with the US Dept. of Agriculture. Her job consists primarily of zapping fruitfly maggots/larva with everything from lasers to 5000w microwaves. She also boils them, crushes them, melts them with acids, dessicates them with silica flakes then blows them away with huge fans.. you name it. Anything that can be done to kill the little doofers, she does. In bulk. They're grown by the thousands just for the purpose of dying in nasty ways.

    I think the whole point is to figure out ways to remove them from crops without damaging the crops or using pesticides. She likes her job, though. The only problem is that burning fruitfly maggots smell not entirely unlike barbecue or popcorn, so she invariably leaves the lab hungry...

    1. Re:Fun in the workplace with microwaves! by PD · · Score: 4, Funny

      that burning fruitfly maggots smell not entirely unlike barbecue or popcorn

      How odd for something named Drosophilia Watermelanogaster.

    2. Re:Fun in the workplace with microwaves! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Where have I read this post before?

    3. Re:Fun in the workplace with microwaves! by The_Pey · · Score: 1

      Mmmm.... Burning fruitfly maggots...

      --
      Hmmm...
    4. Re:Fun in the workplace with microwaves! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your sister-in-law...was she stung as a child?

    5. Re:Fun in the workplace with microwaves! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The parent was copy and pasted straight from another user's post in the "Worst Jobs in Science" article that ran a week or two ago.

    6. Re:Fun in the workplace with microwaves! by Zork+the+Almighty · · Score: 1

      Her job consists primarily of zapping fruitfly maggots/larva with everything from lasers to 5000w microwaves. She also boils them, crushes them, melts them with acids, dessicates them with silica flakes then blows them away with huge fans.. you name it. Anything that can be done to kill the little doofers, she does. In bulk. They're grown by the thousands just for the purpose of dying in nasty ways.

      Remember this story for the next debate on the meaning of life. Could we be the fruitflies ?

      --

      In Soviet America the banks rob you!
  3. heheh by KMAPSRULE · · Score: 1

    Are you a kid? Does your microwave oven belong to your parents? If so, then don't even THINK about trying any of these experiments. I'm serious. If I wreck my microwave oven, I can buy another. Also, I'm a professional electrical engineer. I know enough physics and RF effects to take correct safety precautions when I'm experimenting. But you don't know the precautions, so you should be smart: read and enjoy my writing, but don't duplicate my tests unless you grow up to become an electronics tech, engineer, etc., and buy your OWN microwave oven.

    hmm familiar
    Please try to keep Microwave experiments on topic.
    Try to Learn from other people's Mistakes instead of Making your own.
    ... ... ...
    Build a foil Protector cup for your reproductive organs before attempting these experiments!

    --

    --Im an oven mitt, not an engineer! (SLArbys Radio Commercial)
    1. Re:heheh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

      Build a foil Protector cup for your reproductive organs before attempting these experiments!

      As the male gonads do not contribute any genetic material to the male gametes in humans, you'd need a foil shield for your whole body, or at least any part of your body that has blood in it, which hopefully is your whole body.

  4. Right by Henry+V+.009 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm a professional electrical engineer. I know enough physics and RF effects to take correct safety precautions when I'm experimenting.

    How many times have we heard these words just before the loud ZAP! and inevitable flesh burning smell?

    1. Re:Right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Reminds me of that Jeff Foxworthy joke: What are the most common redneck last words?

      "Hey everyone, watch this!"

  5. What was the name of those games again... by neglige · · Score: 1

    ...where you can have fun with a microwave?

    Something like "Maniac Mansion" and "Zack McKraken"... :) So, toying around with a microwave can not only be fun, it can also help saving the world (or a girl).

    --
    My cats ate my karma. They also wrote this comment.
  6. So ... who's sister-in-law is it REALLY? by orangepeel · · Score: 3, Informative

    The above Anonymous Coward is correct. We have read the parent post before. The story was the Worst Jobs In Science article, and the specific post was here.

    So who's the imposter?

    --
    Whoever designed level 61 in Frozen Bubble is a sadistic bastard.
    1. Re:So ... who's sister-in-law is it REALLY? by orthogonal · · Score: 1

      We have read the parent post before.

      Damn you, orangepeel, you beat me to posting the link to the previous post by seconds. :)

      I suspect the current poster, Ophidian P. Jones (466787) must be the imposter, as the copied post really isn't on topic for this article; they both just happen to share the word "laser".

      The original post, however, was on topic, and pretty interesting reading. Interesting enough that apparently several of us recalled it.

      Hmm, where's -1 Plagiarism? (Or is it ok if you downloaded the orginal article via P2P ;)? )

    2. Re:So ... who's sister-in-law is it REALLY? by orangepeel · · Score: 1

      Damn you, orangepeel, you beat me to posting the link to the previous post by seconds. :)

      Hah ... sorry! :-)

      I was typing away like a madman because I was sure someone else was going to beat me to it. :-)

      --
      Whoever designed level 61 in Frozen Bubble is a sadistic bastard.
    3. Re:So ... who's sister-in-law is it REALLY? by orthogonal · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      I was typing away like a madman because I was sure someone else was going to beat me to it. :-)

      Apparently, all my base are belong to you.

      Take off every 'sister-in-law'

  7. MOD PARENT DOWN - STOLEN POST by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Taken word for word, too.

  8. Microwave + AOL coaster = artwork by silicon+not+in+the+v · · Score: 0

    Speaking of spare time and microwaves, my old roommate discovered something pretty cool to do with a microwave. Put a CD into it for a little while, and (insert cool pyrotechnics show at this point) the output is that it causes the metal layer in the CD to get thousands of little cracks through it in a spiderweb type of pattern.

    --
    We may experience some slight turbulence and then...explode. -Capt. Mal Reynolds
  9. No grapes??? by harrkev · · Score: 4, Interesting

    They did not mention my favorite (and easy to do at work).

    Take a grape and cut it ALMOST is half (both halves still connected by skin). Put the two halves down on a plate (wet side down). Microwave until you see sparks and fire between the two halves.

    This is almost as fun as the electric pickle, but with only one-tenth the smell.

    --
    "-1 Troll" is the apparently the same as "-1 I disagree with you."
    1. Re:No grapes??? by 4of12 · · Score: 1

      I've heard, but not tried, putting a CD in microwave. Sparky platters ensue.

      --
      "Provided by the management for your protection."
    2. Re:No grapes??? by harrkev · · Score: 1

      True. But do NOT microwave for more than a few seconds. After 10-15 seconds, this thick yellow smoke comes out of the CD. It smells terrible and will stain the inside of your microwave.

      Please, do not ask me how I know this. If I told you, then I would have to kill you.

      --
      "-1 Troll" is the apparently the same as "-1 I disagree with you."
    3. Re:No grapes??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Take a grape and cut it ALMOST is half (both halves still connected by skin). Put the two halves down on a plate (wet side down). Microwave until you see sparks and fire between the two halves.

      As featured on Fun with Grapes - A Case Study. That page has my enormous respect simply for being last updated on 14 June 1994 (though the page has moved since then). The almost-as-old Strawberry Pop-Tart Blow-Torches is also highly recommended.

    4. Re:No grapes??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can attest to Strawberry Pop Tart experiment. A few eons ago, when my brother and I lived with our parents, we were relaxing in the morning during our summer break from school. I was downstairs, he was upstairs.

      Unbeknownst to me he had inserted a pop tart into the toaster and started it on its merry trip of heating.

      As I watched tv in the den I started to smell something odd. A few moments later the smoke alarm started to squeal and leaping from the couch I flew up the stairs to the kitchen. There, to my wondering eyes was the toaster with several inches of flame shooting from its top underneath my parents custom-made wooden cabinets. Cabinets made by dads one older brother as a wedding gift.

      By now my brother had come downstairs and after yelling at him for a) not watching the pop tarts and b) positioning the toaster under wooden cabinets, I unplugged it and yelled at him to open the back door while I ran out to our back porch where I set the toaster down on the concrete.

      With the most dangerous part now behind us I grabbed the fire extinguisher and gave it two short bursts to extinguish the flames. A small curl of smoke continued to emanate from the now charred toaster but no flames were evident.

      I didn't tell my parents about what happened until my mom came home and questioned why the toaster was sitting out back. After relating the story I got the cudos for quick thinking and we went about the business of getting supper ready.

      An hour or so later when my dad came home we ate out back and I had to relate the story again (why mom didn't tell him before I don't know). It was decided that for the time being the useless toaster should be moved out into the yard just in case something weird should happen and the concrete catch fire, thus burning down the house (my mom thinks like that).

      We spent the evening eating our meal on the porch watching a male robin peck at its reflection in the toaster. A day or so later the toaster was finally sent to its resting place by the trash hauler.

    5. Re:No grapes??? by Beryllium+Sphere(tm) · · Score: 1

      This is what really happens when you put a CD in a microwave:

      http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/96q1/parody.ht ml

    6. Re:No grapes??? by Mrs.+Neutron · · Score: 1

      I've been doing this one for years. Very effective demonstration in the communal dorm microwave!!!

      Incidently, you can orient the grapes with the wet side down or up. It works either way.

      --

      ~~~~~

      Pet Peeve: Perscription drug advertising to the general public.

  10. Funny one by Jhonny · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I once heard about a woman whose dog got wet and she put it in the microwave to dry it off. Well... It kinda blew up. Then she tried to sue the microwave company for not having a disclaimer saying not to put dogs in the microwave.

    --
    DUKEY!
  11. This Reminds Me of a Story... by Gothic_Walrus · · Score: 3, Funny
    In a hotel trip for FIRST Robotics, some of my friends got the brilliant idea to microwave a CD.

    The aftermath? A charred CD in the garbage can, stinking up our hotel floor. Their microwave, soaking in their bathtub (supposedly to douse the flames).

    Moral of the story? Microwaves are fun, but be careful what you put in them.

    --
    Goo goo g'joob.
    1. Re:This Reminds Me of a Story... by driftingwalrus · · Score: 0, Redundant

      You must be careful to microwave the CD for three seconds, no more! Any more than three seconds and it *will* burst into flame.

      --
      Paul Anderson
      "I drank WHAT?!" -- Socrates
  12. Suggestion for a new Slashdot Topic... by JasonMaggini · · Score: 2, Funny

    For articles like these.
    Here is one possible icon...

  13. speed of light... by fireduck · · Score: 2, Informative

    they don't even include (at least not on casual glance) how one can calculate the speed of light using a microwave and a plate of marshmellows. that's one i'd really like to attempt some time when i'm bored enough.

    my worst microwave moment: I have a couple lizards (leopard geckos to be precise). in their cage, i had a piece of a bark they were using as a hiding spot. i was washing the bark one day and wanted to dry it in the microwave (not the brightest idea, but whatever). Apparently a cricket had hidden itself somewhere inside one of the porous spaces. Long story short, when I nuked it, about 10 s into the run, i hear a brief high pitched whine, increasing frequency and then a splat noise. apparently i boiled the cricket from the inside out, and like a pressure cooker with a not so well attached lid, it exploded.

  14. speaking of heating, cooling, exploding... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    a twelve-year-old girl apparently figured out how to make a jawbreaker explode

    1. Re:speaking of heating, cooling, exploding... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      correction: she's nine

  15. This reminds me of the classic children's book by proxima · · Score: 1

    Pop Goes the Hamster and Other Fun Microwave Games.

    --
    "The universe seems neither benign nor hostile, merely indifferent." --Carl Sagan
  16. Try OLD Scientific American's Amateur Scientist by G4from128k · · Score: 1

    Back before litigation reared its ugly head, Scietific American had some swell projects. These included:
    - 20 Watt CO2 laser
    - 6ft metal-walled solid fuel (aluminum & sulfur) rocket
    - atom splitter (400 keV electrons could make Lithium atoms radioactive)
    - homemade X-ray source

    Ah! Those were the good old days.

    --
    Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
  17. MOD DOWN PLAGARISM by pr0ntab · · Score: 1

    HOLY FUCKING SHIT

    Another Stolen Post

    Rack 'em up, Ophidian Jones.

    --
    Fuck Beta. Fuck Dice
    1. Re:MOD DOWN PLAGARISM by originalnih · · Score: 1

      Dude, all he did was post a link to a site. Fuckin chill or something, angstnerd.

  18. Moo by Chacham · · Score: 1

    Slashdot loves microwaves.

    Perhaps its time for as "microwave" section?