Microwaves and Urban Myths

TrixiBuG · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:17

So I use the microwave in work to heat up my soup for my dinner.

Twice now I have been told not to stand too close to the microwave (that is heating up my soup) as it will 'cook my insides, cause of the radiation'

I wouldn't normally ask but its the second person this week to tell me this.

I find this very hard to believe - maybe when Microwave Ovens were first invented there might have been slight leek issues but now? Surely they are built to shield us from the waves?

Anyone got any ideas on this? Genuinely interested

Gooner Leroy · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:19

trixilux said:
So I use the microwave in work to heat up my soup for my dinner.

Twice now I have been told not to stand too close to the microwave (that is heating up my soup) as it will 'cook my insides, cause of the radiation'

I wouldn't normally ask but its the second person this week to tell me this.

I find this very hard to believe - maybe when Microwave Ovens were first invented there might have been slight leek issues but now? Surely they are built to shield us from the waves?

Anyone got any ideas on this? Genuinely interested

You will also start to glow in the dark

tom_e · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:19

As long as it's in good repair then there should be minimal leakage.

Cuchulain · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:20

Standing next to a Microwave will not cook your insides, whoever told you it will is a ******* idiot.

grimm · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:20

You'd get more radiation from using your mobile phone for two minutes I would think.

arc@css · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:21

Preferably don't stand close to it, but I wouldn't worry too much about it.

TrixiBuG · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:23

Gooner Leroy said:
You will also start to glow in the dark

Oh! Could be handy

Cuchulain said:
Standing next to a Microwave will not cook your insides, whoever told you it will is a ******* idiot.

Your most probably right

Is there any evidence of microwave leakage?

arknor · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:23

even if there was leakage it wouldnt be focused enough to do anything ?

stealthgeek · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:24

Someone (who was actually very intelligent otherwise, had a physics degree I think) shouted at me in uni when I opened the microwave door without letting it 'ping' first, said I was letting the radiation out into the room....

TrixiBuG · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:26

stealthgeek said:
Someone (who was actually very intelligent otherwise, had a physics degree I think) shouted at me in uni when I opened the microwave door without letting it 'ping' first, said I was letting the radiation out into the room....

SEE!!! Its not just my generic idiots that have this tales. Just like all myths they have a grain of truth in them somewhere...so where its it?

mrk · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:27

stealthgeek said:
Someone (who was actually very intelligent otherwise, had a physics degree I think) shouted at me in uni when I opened the microwave door without letting it 'ping' first, said I was letting the radiation out into the room....

As with the other thread's discussion last week, you don't have to lack intelligence to be be a few eggs short these days

Cuchulain · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:29

trixilux said:
SEE!!! Its not just my generic idiots that have this tales. Just like all myths they have a grain of truth in them somewhere...so where its it?

There's no truth in it whatsoever, he was an idiot too.

Gooner Leroy · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:33

stealthgeek said:
Someone (who was actually very intelligent otherwise, had a physics degree I think) shouted at me in uni when I opened the microwave door without letting it 'ping' first, said I was letting the radiation out into the room....

So, what would happen if you put a spider in the microwave, turn it on and stand next to it??? I'm going to start designing my costume right now

Morbius · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:35

trixilux said:
Is there any evidence of microwave leakage?

Yup, you can measure it.

Jokester · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:36

Microwave's only cook stuff as far as I'm aware because they create a standing wave inside the machine that resonates. Anything that leaks out just dissipates harmlessly.

Dist · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:37

If you use a microwave you need proper protection, like a tin foil hat to protect your brain from the radiation.

stealthgeek · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:39

mrk said:
As with the other thread's discussion last week, you don't have to lack intelligence to be be a few eggs short these days

I just stared at him, holding my soup and shaking my head until he walked away*

*edit: I should add, 'walked away', until the radiation mutated his legs into wings

Xordium · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:39

Simply won't happen - the regulations are that tight that whatever leakage occurs outside the microwave (directly like 1cm) is still far too low to be harmful. That and doubled up mechanisms to prevent microwaves from being made when the door is opened means whoever panders to this idea is a muppet.

Cosimo · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:40

Dist said:
If you use a microwave you need proper protection, like a tin foil hat to protect your brain from the radiation.

.... and a lead apron to protect your tackle.

anything I don't mind · 13 Nov 2012 at 12:41

You should not stand and look in to a microwave due to this problem. The door usually has that black stuff on it but that does not help much. You can stand near it but i wouldn't put my face next to the window for whole 5 or 10 mins.