Microwave Experiments Cause Sponge Disasters

gollum123 writes "Reports about a study that found microwave ovens can be used to sterilize kitchen sponges sent people hurrying to test the idea this week — with sometimes disastrous results. A team at the University of Florida found that two minutes in the microwave at full power could kill a range of bacteria, viruses and parasites on kitchen sponges. They described how they soaked the sponges in wastewater and then zapped them. But several experimenters evidently left out the crucial step of wetting the sponge. "Just wanted you to know that your article on microwaving sponges and scrubbers aroused my interest. However, when I put my sponge/scrubber into the microwave, it caught fire, smoked up the house, ruined my microwave, and pissed me off," one correspondent wrote in an e-mail to Reuters."

Comments

Incoming lawsuits in:

[Anonymous Coward]

3
2
1

Re:Incoming lawsuits in:

[Aglassis]

Incoming lawsuits in: 3..2..1..

Actually it should be the opposite. Anyone who convinces the stupid to sterilize themselves or remove themselves from the gene pool through other means certainly deserves our hearty congratulations. In fact, they should be allowed to sue the stupid bastards they convinced to kill themselves.

I can see it now, billboards with signs saying: "a microwave is a great way to get a tan," "a blowtorch is a great way to thaw frozen pipes," and of course "it is cool to operate power tools--in the nude! Buy Budweiser!"

Truly, we need the stupid to start killing themselves again. With the advent of birth control, human evolution is starting to go backwards. In 100 years they will talk about the benevolent reign of George Bush the Wise.

As they say

[Anonymous Coward]

However, when I put my sponge/scrubber into the microwave, it caught fire, smoked up the house, ruined my microwave, and pissed me off.

The stupid shall be punished.

What is he whining about?

[Squapper]

If the sponge caugth fire, the microbes are probably dead by now. Right?

Re:cat

[lahvak]

Did you soak the cat in water first?

Sounds like....

[Anonymous Coward]

Lots of smoke? Smells like burning tires? Really pissed off? These people sound like Linux users trying to get their sound cards to work.

Class Action Suit

[freedom_india]

Prepare for a Class Action Suit filed against Reuters, the Scientists who did this and news papers that carried it for the damages caused by the fires.

Out of the $100 million that will be awarded, $80 million will go the lawyers, $10 million towards court fees, etc., and the class action plaintiffs awarded a $15 coupon each that can be redeemed for a Microwave at Wal-mart.

Conversion error.

[cuzco]

We Americans measure our bacteria as fractions of an inch so the sponge fires were no doubt caused when people, in their germ kill potential calculations, screwed up while converting centimeter length microwaves to inches. Honest mistake.

Re:This just in...

[Patrik_AKA_RedX]

No it means he missed a '0'. 5 minutes cures only some forms of stupidity. 50 minutes cures all forms.

If all else fails, read the instructions.

[xav_jones]

"Just wanted you to know that your article on nuclear fusion reactors aroused my interest. However, when I put my reactor into operation, it caught fire, levelled the neighbourhood, stained my carpet, and pissed me off."

Perhaps if you can't follow all the instructions there are some things you really shouldn't be doing.

Re:Ignorance != Stupidity

[Pikoro]

You put a dry sponge into your microwave didn't you?

Re:People are just too damn stupid for their own g

[Bromskloss]

Mind you, I am all about protecting and subsidising the weakest, the handicapped, the sick and al.

Puh, thanks.
-Al