In this enlightening episode of “ok. Now you know,” host Joe Garner delves into the remarkable journey of the microwave oven—a staple of modern kitchens worldwide. The episode begins with a captivating tale of accidental discovery by engineer Percy Spencer, who noticed a candy bar melting in his pocket due to radar equipment. This moment sparked a series of experiments, culminating in the creation of the first commercial microwave oven, the Radarange.

Fast-forward to the 1960s and 1970s, when technological advancements shrank microwave ovens to a more manageable size and cost, allowing them to become a household necessity. Joe explains the science of how microwaves agitate water molecules in food to generate heat, offering an efficient alternative to traditional ovens. Despite early skepticism and myths surrounding safety and nutritional concerns, research indicates that microwaving is both safe and nutrient-preserving. Today, microwave ovens symbolize human ingenuity and our relentless quest for convenience.