Why can microwaves be made of metal?

[@Wilex-Rivi]

Despite knowing microwaves were metal, it never exactly clicked that they're metal

[@TheBajamin]

Don’t worry 95% of us never thought about it.

[@xXmlgamingXx355]

Honestly, same…

[@taylorjones5370]

pretty sure it has a lot to do with the coating on the inside also, my mom had a old microwave that the coating started to come off in a corner and it was causing sparks lol

[@vividcg5859]

same honestly

[@johnlawrence5383]

Literally same 💀💀

[@nationalsocialism3504]

"First of all don't put metal in the microwave" is an important point to reiterate immediately

[@JmKrokY]

Yeah

[@lmdirkdiggler7170]

Idk, I live by "don't dig a pop tart out with a fork unless you unplug the toaster first."

[@cam5816]

@@lmdirkdiggler7170Pathetic

[@pumpkinhead002]

​ This is significantly more dangerous than metal in a microwave

[@voraxumbra1]

I mean, I dont and wouldn't do it. But youd have to microwave metal intentionally for minutes on end before anything really happens. Its quite literally harmless to microwave metal for a few seconds.

[@BPTK162]

I put tinfoil in the microwave once, 2 seconds of a mini lightning storm told me never to do that again. I think the burn marks are still in the back of my parents microwave.

[@EmpressLizard81]

You should try putting a single serving potato chip bag in the microwave though. No more than 5 seconds. They shrink!!

[@dustinakadustin]

​@@EmpressLizard81you can put a chip packet in the oven and do the same thing without risking damage to the microwave.

[@Zeroshiki]

My dumbass put an entire pot with ramen in it in the microwave when I was like 6 or 7. Almost blew us all up, good thing my mom caught it right away. 💀

[@jadenomore]

​@@ZeroshikiMy little sister did something similar at that age too. She was trying to make a baked/jacket potato but got the methods confused. Instead of putting the foil wrapped spud in the oven, she tried to nuke it, and us. It caught fire and destroyed the inside of the microwave. Luckily our dad saw the funny side of it and didn't get mad. 😂

[@jolanderphilip]

Did the same with a ceramic bowl that had a gold rim I thought the gold was fake Thankfully it only sparked for a second and didn’t burn anything

[@WorrilessWildflower]

When my boyfriend was younger, he for some reason really really liked warm soda. So he decided to stick a can of soda in the microwave and blew the door off.

[@MrSuperG]

warm soda is just wild

[@mal2ksc]

But was it the metal that caused the explosion, or boiling liquid, or the pressurized CO₂?

[@WorrilessWildflower]

@@mal2ksc they figured it was the aluminum can but it could’ve been that or multiple factors.

[@WorrilessWildflower]

@@MrSuperG Ik right

[@sheilaescalon5215]

I did that once NOT BC I LIKE WARM SODA- IM NOT A PSYCHOPATH- but bc I forgot my soda in the freezer and I wanted all the ice to melt off 🥹 I was 8..

[@TwistedBee]

To be quite honest, never once have i ever thought about this. I just accepted the fact that "metal in microwave = bad"

[@Mr.L9]

Yea i realized I remembered it’s bad shit

[@chapacoka]

Sometimes getting the abridged version is ok. The normal person doesn't need to really know down to the detail why we don't put metal in microwaves. We just need to know that we shouldn't and maybe potential consequences.

[@LyrixNChill]

I learned this rule through 8-year old experience. The fire and smoke was enough for me to abide by that rule for the rest of my life.

[@counturblessings1179]

Weird my family always taught me to never microwave forks

[@porscheguy6972]

Only time I thought about it was when our new microwave came with a whole metal tray! I was like wait isn't this Bad/Illegal 💀

[@gorflunk]

I wish my microwave was metal. All I can ever get it to play is beeps.

[@Adrian-gs9er]

Underrated

[@J0_nathan]

You're microwave is more into edm I think

[@Spencer8288]

Lmao

[@eliparsons7719]

booo

[@theoutskirter8501]

👩🏾‍🎤👐🏿🎉

[@wiseguy100]

I once accidentally left a bit of foil lid on the rim of a plastic, microwaveable meal. The amount of mini lightening flashes had me thinking Thor was about to superhero land in the middle of my kitchen.

[@Velvet-Of-Erion]

Even worse when you're afraid to go stop it lmfao

[@SovietReunionYT]

I had this happen to me when I put in something that I was sure was plastic but it turned out to be aluminium instead.

[@EatAnOctorok]

Well for what it’s worth, if you do it again, you’ll get to see Stan Lee, too

[@markwildt5728]

I did the same thing with a take out container of Chinese Food... Didn't realize there was a staple holding it together.

[@vforx]

​@@Velvet-Of-Erion Omg lol, thats spot on, literally me 😂

[@thatlutherfan]

this is the best description of what this is. thanks for the explanation!

[@Doomblud]

This is the issue with telling people "what" without telling them "why" Edit: For all the people in the comments who lack reading skills. The "what" in this case is: Metal in the microwave creates fires. The "why" is what Hank explains. Hope this helps.

[@howardlam6181]

a bit of high school physics and critical thinking should tell you why

[@dovos8572]

@@howardlam6181 nobody remembers what they learned in class the minute the test for it is over. don't expect people to remember stuff years later that they never understood.

[@TheDeathLove]

​@@dovos8572then they won't remember after telling them why either. If they have no interest in learning it and keeping it in their brains, they will eventually forget anyway. In fact, if they wanted to learn, Google exists.

[@Link-1004]

@@dovos8572just cause you don’t remember stuff from school doesn’t mean the rest of us 1. Don’t remember as well or 2. Didn’t continue to go to school to make what we learned into a career.

[@Itchyboy_]

@@Link-1004you type like an autistic step mother.

[@johnmccrossan9376]

"plasmafy the air" is a phrase i simultaneously want to hear more often and never at all

[@kandicelewis9435]

I liked the emphasis he put on it😂

[@ioweutube2]

yea, I feel like we need a follow up to that one.

[@johnmccrossan9376]

@@ioweutube2 it's an interesting turn of phrase and it's pleasing to the ear, but I never want to hear it said as a command by someone who looks bond villainy

[@criss3619]

i got reminded of the scene from watchmen when dr manhattan explodes.

[@electricfox6598]

Put a grape in it, or anything similarly shaped

[@joe1205]

I once put a gold rimmed plate in the microwave. Now i know why it sparked.

[@Snuzzled]

I had a mug from Starbucks that had the logo in shiny gold on it. I had assumed it was just gold paint, and stupidly put the mug in the microwave to warm up my hot cocoa. I was treated to a very brief, very terrifying, impromptu light show. Microwave was fine, mug now has a shiny new crackle pattern on the gold _foil_ lmao

[@justsplat]

Dude, i remember microwaving ketchup packets and then i heard a really loud buzzing sound and i saw lots of crackling start forming in my microwave. I turned it off and the ends of my ketchup packets were black. Still tasted fine, though (I was 7)

[@dayewalker9408]

I bet the guy asking the question is a FLAT EARTHer too....!!! Just a guess.

[@rachaelm3298]

All metallic paints have metal in them, enough to cause a problem in a microwave. If you look up metallic rimmed (gold, silver paint) cups, bowls plates ect, they say specifically they should not be used in a mircrowave.

[@rachaelm3298]

​@@Snuzzledeven if it were just gold paint, metallic paints contain metals.. so it still would have caused the same issue as the foil.

[@Nothing83-r5]

1% Don't put metal 99% do want to put metal

[@garcon5916]

He said : “hold my centrifuge”

[@Yannaaaaaaaaaaaa]

😂😂😂😂

[@ayoubayoub2017]

hhhhhhhhhh

[@garcon5916]

@@NickyTheKitty777 anyone have a fuck to give this guy

[@Timelapse-oh9wy]

😭😭😭😭

[@Juli-g4d]

how is microwave a form of light? I think you mean microwaves are a form electromagnetic radiation as is light. The definition of light is electromagnetic radiation the is visible to the human eye.

[@ellariel7457]

The world’s shortest and most regularly deserved poetic ode: Thanks, Hank!

[@mark-ish]

..."my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge" - Isaac Asimov

[@ellariel7457]

@@mark-ish If Stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out? (falsely attributed to Will Rogers)

[@Hunter5021YT]

Bro flipped him off in science 😂

[@green4strings]

Nah, pure explanation isn’t like that. It’s sharing! 😊

[@frankjonestba]

Condescending.

[@Khaled-bd1pl]

No. He explained it to him. Maybe if you didn’t have sub 50 iq, you’d realize that instead of writing “flipped him off”.

[@JuanRodriguez-yh7fr]

@@frankjonestba How is explaining it condescending?

[@frankjonestba]

@@JuanRodriguez-yh7fr it's the manner in which he is explaining.

[@redhotrush3220]

I didn’t think I needed this information…thank you

[@Arterexius]

I've disassembled so many of these. They don't hold a lot of value, save for the massive transformer within them, but I have noticed that all of them have a slightly differently tuned bell, so now I'm collecting them so I can build a musical instrument from microwave bells 😂

[@NynjaDoom]

This is something I need updates on

[@rowboat10]

No pressure but me too

[@yeeterdeleter2096]

Alot of pressure hurry tf up

[@CrimsonLadyVT]

Where is it now😂

[@cececox6399]

Omg I NEED updates! I want to follow this SO bad 😂 I even gave your channel a sub. So you better share with us! 😂

[@PenneySounds]

I had a microwave where the paint started chipping off and exposing the bare metal underneath. It started sparking every time I used it.

[@PenneySounds]

@kaleycoleman437 Mine became unusable very quickly

[@ashlynstrickland2576]

Your microwave is special. It has an extra way of cooking the food😂

[@PenneySounds]

@@ashlynstrickland2576 If only it was edible afterwards

[@ashlynstrickland2576]

@@PenneySounds 😂

[@eliserenée6248]

In mine one of those screws pointed out in this video spark every once in a while...freaks me out

[@foogod4237]

More specifically, the main reason people are told not to put metal in the microwave is because *certain shapes* of metal can cause problems when subjected to microwave frequencies (in particular, many shapes with sharp edges or corners, and pieces which are a size which is around the same size as the wavelength of the microwaves). If *those particular shapes* of metal are put in a microwave, they can become very hot, or produce electrical arcs, etc, which can lead to bad things. The metal which is built into your microwave has been very carefully designed and tested to make sure that it is not the kind of shape/size which will cause problems, but if you just put some random metal thing in there, you really have no idea whether it will be a problem or not. It could be fine, or it could be bad, so the general advice is just "don't do that". There are actually some types of metal which are intended to be put in microwaves, though, such as metallized foils used in some types of microwave food packaging. They have also been specially designed and tested to produce a particular effect (usually getting hot (but not too hot), etc), and there is actually a lot of science that goes into designing that kind of thing.

[@cadetCap1]

A lot of misunderstandings of how things work is born from the difference in HOW things work, and the MINIMUM amount of knowledge that the average person needs to know about how such a thing works in order to get by.

[@apainintheaas]

That is also what I've heard. I believe there can also be problems where metal getting close to the walls can cause arcing.

[@initialyeet3951]

@@cadetCap1exactly. People are too dumb to put the effort into thinking about things like this, so the dumbed-down version becomes the norm and therefore people get confused.

[@Mattle_lutra]

I melt metal in my microwave with a "ceramic" crucible made of dried clay, colloidal silica and clay powder. This way I can melt enough bronze to make small jewelry without a gas furnace ✌️

[@timeforsuchaword]

I put erlenmeyer flasks with the top covered by aluminum foil in the microwave all the time. It's perfectly fine as long as the foil is well flattened and placed away from the sides and roof.

[@Deathnotefan97]

Not to mention that, sense those screws are _supposed_ to be there, they are likely accounted for in the design, meaning the microwaves they scatter are part of the process

[@Triaxx2]

I'm actually glad to hear an explanation.

[@hadvar.the.viking]

Watch Electro Booms video on metal in microwaves. It's mostly safe so long as it doesn't touch the walls and isn't thin enough to catch fire

[@mullz.m]

I mean.. microwaving food has plenty of health issues. And this Hank guy speaks with such a condescending manner it should repulse anyone with average levels of kindness and empathy.

[@Triaxx2]

@@hadvar.the.viking I always wondered about the metal rings on the soup at hands. That makes sense now.

[@Triaxx2]

@@mullz.m Sorry, I don't do empathy. it's not a survival trait. But I have sympathy for you looking into a mirror.

[@Infernalhypernova]

@@mullz.mThat’s just the way he talks, about anything. He’s always excited to explain. I see it as more of an, “I’m glad you asked” attitude than condescending.

[@tymcdonald7195]

this is also why you should not run a microwave empty, with nothing to absorb those tasty rays

[@DMahalko]

The glass tray will absorb the energy if nothing else is inside.

[@12345678abracadabra]

No, that's not why. The whole point of microwaves is that they don't get absorbed by anything. It passed through the food, excited the molecules, and then vibrate to warm the food. It's okay to run it empty, though why would you.

[@highroller5335]

​@12345678abracadabra nothing is probably one of the more dangerous things you can run in a microwave because the perforated grill in the metal where the magnatron emits the microwaves into the chamber in the first place is the only way for the radiation to escape with nothing absorbing it. Firing microwaves back into the magnatron can cause all kinds of electrical issues and they're unpredictable wit effects ranging from Lower efficiency, failure to run when prompted, running without being prompted, scrambling the electronics of the screen and keyboard, starting a fire because the capacitors in the housing blew. Most newer microwaves have a sensor that stops it if it catches the magnatron backfiring but plenty of older or cheeper ones don't.

[@dasistdiewahrheit9585]

BS

[@Wicha329]

@@12345678abracadabraYeah, sure.

[@barryjatkinson]

We need more educational shorts like this

[@angelspiritfoxx]

​​@RG-hj2ky why are you watching then lol

[@TTH248]

@RG-hj2kythen why you watch this short? You can just scroll away who force you here?

[@bbb56742]

@RG-hj2kybased take honestly

[@mrosegold]

​@RG-hj2ky He should do a short on why people watch things they find annoying 😂 I guess that'd be more psychology though

[@NeutronGD_OFFICIAL]

​@RG-hj2kyJust scroll away.

[@Boritoman76]

Thank you for explaining! Never knew how microwaves worked.

[@sergiosperspective]

Love the clear, concise yet detailed and enthusiastic explanation. 👍👌

[@almessasorrow4950]

Accidentally left a fork in a bowl of nopdles when heating them up when I was little and never forgot. The microwave exploded. It made a few pop sounds then exploded. My parents never bought a new one so my entire childhood my siblings would look at me when mentioning how they had to pop popcorn,and burritos without a microwave.... Don't put metal in the microwave.

[@sergiosperspective]

@@almessasorrow4950 loool, parents said no more

[@PlinaZ]

Ohhh this is actually very educational and fairly easy to understand. I'd like plenty more of this.

[@peterangelo-cn3br]

U know mannii show he has an wireless earbud and he has one weird I m on to something

[@Dantheman6074]

@@peterangelo-cn3brnigga what

[@GANGLYMAN117]

The way he described it makes me want to put metal into a microwave even more than before.

[@jeffhall768]

He didn't describe it at all though 😂😂😂. How do you get educated from nothing?

[@Dantheman6074]

@@jeffhall768 it’s way easier just to say you’re a little slow kiddo.

[@TeamFlame_101]

"daddy, the microwave is shooting fireworks!"

[@adityasusantapanda]

It's magmafying💀

[@lewissmith4602]

I said this myself around 1983 after my brother put an Arby's sandwich in the microwave. It melted the ceiling of the microwave a little bit but that microwave continued to work for another 20 years.

[@DarkStallion101]

@@lewissmith4602💀💀💀 sigma much?

[@rjgvrielink3221]

This is a lot more fun when you emagine the whole machine every time he says microwave

[@Sithandra_Likes_To_Art]

This is my first time hearing someone actually explain the microwaves inside of a microwave.

[@Jasoncooldude]

Look at mrgreens recent video on microwaves, very informative. Grew up with parents who refused to get a microwave because they were convinced they magically generated radiation and eating foods from them would cause cancer. They still don’t get it unfortunately.

[@eli2112]

Having a physics masters mom, I've heard the explanation a few times, but I still apreciate it from another source

[@sudman96]

Someone needs to attend school

[@nunyabisniz8047]

it's literally on the user manual

[@Nazuiko]

Did you know you can measure the speed of light using a microwave... and cheese? (Id also suggest looking up MinuteFood's video on Microwaves and Air fryers; its really fascinating!)

[@anniioakley9765]

Hank Uncled us with that “first of all” 😌 appreciated.

[@ajohnson153]

I remember watching my friend put cds in his microwave because he liked watching the arc patterns they made. Mind you, it was his personal microwave, not the family microwave. The cds were just old burned discs that no longer worked correctly. I don't suggest doing it, but it does look really cool when they spark.

[@randomthe0ne]

your dad created a demon core

[@cybernoid001]

yup, we do that in IT to wipe data from disks, tape media, and other things to kill them before disposing of them to prevent PII ("Personally Identifiable Information", like name, address, phone number, credit card info etc) from being accessible.

[@sonictheflexhog6075]

@@randomthe0newtf?

[@eddiesmith7867]

​@@randomthe0ne wtf?

[@Reft_01]

had to get rid of a lot of garbage CDs at a place I was working at, we def did that to a few of them to see the cool patterns in the reflective side

[@theodoremccoll3267]

The size of the holes in the window are made to match the wavelength of the microwave. All microwave windows are the same, to reflect waves back in, but allow visible light through. . The waves match the harmonics of the water molecules and cause them to vibrate and heat up. We used to teach this in high school physics class.

[@ski_free_exe]

Why did the “for you” sound so personal damn

[@nullpoint3346]

Because he's lost microwaves from the screws.

[@Dunno..]

It was a direct response. He says sir, and refers to HIS microwave. It was personal.

[@nobodylolz77]

I'm glad to hear one person that actually tells what happens instead of " it's not dangerous don't worry about it, nothing happens"

[@kurttruk2]

Also, the issue is sharp pointy metal, like cultery, particularly knives and forks, anything that has a narrow handle, or foil that has been folded. The pointier something is, the more electrical charge concentrates in the points due to the corona effect, making it MUCH more like for an electric arc to jump and spark out, damaging the machine.

[@MilitaryReptile]

These waves are electromagnetic waves and therefore if you put any nonferrous metal into a microwave you will cause an explosion.

[@gosnarikwtf5411]

Actually spoons with no sharp handle is ok to put in a microwave. There will be no such point of energy release

[@coastergirl98]

I see you've watched Electroboom

[@MrFateorfaith]

​@@coastergirl98 two more times and you can summon the wizard himself.

[@jorgey4]

I'd also reckon the hull of the microwave is grounded in some way to handle any electrical load and prevent bad things from happening

[@The_HandsomeGamer]

Zooming in and out when explaining basic facts both does and doesn't make the person look stupider

[@taitano12]

I was 9 or 10 when I asked why you don't put metal in the microwave when the microwave is made of metal. Both of my Grandpas were there, one a WWII Master Supply Sergeant and the other a retired USCG Pilot who had retired to teach at a local college. I'm such a nerd that I was enthralled with the hour or five they spent explaining radar, microwaves, and radio communications. The thing that made it take all afternoon was that they were there for most of it, and, being both veterans and grandpas, they couldn't stop interrupting themselves and each other with stories about the history around the tech. Some stories were related, even if not even remotely relevant, like Captain So-and-so and his penchant for having a spotless uniform, save for a single smudge of grease above his nametag to honor the mechanics and Engineers, and and remember his father, who was an auto mechanic back home. Other stories were both related and extremely relevant, such as losing a shipmate to the cold when they were installing the Dewline in Canada and Alaska. Since the food they were preparing was ready to cook after that last story, they taught me how to make a fire with just a couple of sticks and used that to start the BBQ.

[@IamCoalfoot]

This little blurb alone was worth paying attention to, thanks for sharing!

[@jared_deraj]

that's a wonderful story, wish I had such awesome grandfathers myself. thanks for sharing

[@alexthedio]

Beautiful

[@Neli42]

Cherish that memory forever. ❤

[@justinharvie8126]

Lol I feel what you're feeling bro. I had the same interactions with the various veterans, scientists and engineers I've met throughout my life thanks to my father. All of them did similar things, such as moving from the subject into some retrospective story, analogy or memory they had that could either: correlate to the topic at hand, or deviate from it entirely, but it was still fascinating to listen to as a young lad.

[@Liz_Nguyen]

12 years ago when my AP bio teacher showed our class Hank Green videos about the mitochondria being the powerhouse of the cell and of the ETC, I honestly thought to myself “thank god I don’t have to watch another one of those videos” when I finished that class. Here I am, a full fledged adult, still watching Hank Green but with more relevant and cool content. Ya never left me. And you still look the same. You’re still my go to science guy.

[@zerocool_42]

He feels like an old friend that you talk to for like 3 minutes once every couple of weeks and it's always enjoyable

[@clonezero_RR]

What if your chemistry teacher started showing you Nilered videos?

[@L0wSkiller]

​@@clonezero_RRI would suggest you keep in contact with that teacher, because that's unabashedly B A S E D

[@AnnoyingNewsletters]

Nile Blue is clearly superior 😉

[@angst_]

Wait till OP learns that those hooks are to hold a giant metal rack! Mine has one like that!

[@HeavenLeahSky]

Huh I've never seen one in a microwave before

[@Cats_in_cravats]

Mine has one too! I've never used it though

[@kashiichan]

What is the rack for?

[@cynicalnightmare1108]

​@@kashiichanobviously so you can bbq in your microwave, what else? /s

[@InShadowsLinger]

@@kashiichanso you can double decker plates in there.

[@jusTTimharry]

That's very smart man! Good xplanation 🙃

[@Trevcicles]

I love when i actually understand stuff like this

[@stowlicters8362]

really, tell me more.

[@JmKrokY]

Cool

[@firebreathingfun5699]

More.

[@perhapsbutmaybe]

Ok explain how the magnetron works, cause that thing is just magic

[@LIKERorHATER]

@@perhapsbutmaybe do you want a detailed explanation or is it enough to say that this think acts like a antenna with so much power and such a frequency that it produce high energy microwaves.

[@Gobymanynamez]

I stg a secret thing on my bucket list was always for someone to explain to me how a microwave work and im so thankful for this video

[@yneqe-hv6vi]

I can also recommend "this video about microwaves is interesting I promise" bij Tom Scott. About the origin of microwaves. It is as promised, very interesting.

[@AnonymousGamerDB]

Micro waves

[@jcd5238]

You have google

[@TomMccarthy-bp7yp]

Microwaves are a form of electromagnetic radiation, like light, and infrared and UV and X-rays etc. The microwaves produced in the microwave form a standing wave, and interact with the bonds between atoms in your food and cause them to vibrate and heat up.

[@brysonjohns8271]

Man google has bee available to you

[@heatherhowell4559]

I read that someone who is good in a subject can understand it themselves, someone who is great can understand and explain it to others. Thank you for being that great teacher, Mr. Hank💖

[@h3lblad3]

My father always said it didn't matter how educated someone was -- they don't know what they're talking about if they can't explain it to someone who isn't in words they can understand.

[@ddan1998]

Old school glazing💀💀/j

[@karlbarnett5863]

I read somewhere that one of the best things you can do for a child's developing brain is ask them about things they've just recently learned. Them learning to explain about the certain subject can give them a better understanding of said subject. It also helps to connect brain neurons or something like that.

[@iranj6831]

THAT metal is just too cool with the microwave bro

[@shanedivix9306]

"First of all, don't put metal in the microwave" my favorite opening line ever

[@nolansparks7332]

Except you can leave a fork in the microwave

[@Tony-pm5xo]

I think another reason is the inside of the microwave is all electrically connected, but a random fork in it isn't. The EM wave can induce different potential on these two metal pieces. At microwave's voltage this creates arc, and you get lightning imbued fork and house fire

[@rachelmarie2228]

I wouldn't go as far as house fire, but you would get sparks. I am sure most people have accidentally microwaved a utensil or other metal item by accident, until it starting sparking and then frantically stopped it.

[@xeraoh]

if you put a ceramic mug with a painted "gold rim" on it will burn down with fancy sparks

[@MonkeyJedi99]

@@rachelmarie2228 My previous microwave was occasionally tripping the breaker in my new place. I thought it was a bad wiring job. And then came the day the microwave did not turn off. Not when the timer ran out, and not even when I opened the door. I slammed the door shut, unplugged it and bought a new one the next day. - Strangely, I have not had a tripped breaker since. - Anyway, that was one case where a microwave might have been able to put enough energy into a kitchen to start a fire (?maybe?) though I refused to do the science.

[@thedyingmeme6]

"Lightning imbued fork" So it does lightning as well as piercing damage?

[@MonkeyJedi99]

@@thedyingmeme6 If I remember my MtG cards correctly, it allows you to strike two targets with the same attack.

[@jackcostello7708]

I didn't know the inside of a microwave was metal. Just never really thought. I actually found the explanation easy to follow and comprehend. Learn something new every day. Thank you for sharing.

[@graceskommesa]

Honestly that's why Hank is the best. He got me through a lot of tough science classes back in the day and I'm sure he's going to continue blowing my mind as long as I live!!

[@bofe54]

@jackcostello7708 actually a nice comment too. much love. just nice people not hatin on eachother for no reason

[@sarahhenry3607]

tbh it made a little less sense to me. If the entire thing is metal, and a screw is metal, a lot more than say... a poptart wrapper. then why is there so much bigger a reaction with the wrapper?

[@hydrosphere8447]

​@@sarahhenry3607 because that's where all the microwaves (energy waves) are focused. The screw only has a tiny bit. Stuff you put in the middle is where all the waves from all over are meeting in one place.

[@sarahhenry3607]

@@hydrosphere8447 ah, thanks man! that makes more sense. So basically the waves just arent having a chance to hit those screws.

[@Walterisreal]

Not me putting metal plates in the microwaves my whole life

[@dieselscartalk4146]

Them microwaves got so much energy they're bouncing off the walls

[@MamaTrixxieAsmr]

They gotta have enough energy to make the moisture in your food wiggle lol

[@Tr0lliPop]

I had a friend whose microwave weirdly didn't react too much to metal in it. It was even written in its instructions that you can put a metal spoon in a drink you're microwaving to speed up the heating.

[@lesil1000]

I’ve read that spoons are typically fine in microwaves. It’s forks you gotta worry about.

[@tristan-ec6hz]

I just started doing this unironically I forgot to take out my spoon once and it didn’t do anything so i havent worried since

[@czechgop7631]

That's literally my microwave oven. You can even leave a fork inside and it's fine. What I find interesting as an electrician is that it takes the same current at every power setting 😂

[@Tr0lliPop]

@@czechgop7631 maybe the power setting decreases/increases the resistance while keeping the current the same? idk

[@JonHaa87]

@@czechgop7631 Microwave power settings usually work by turning the microwave off and on in a specific pattern, so for example on 800W the magnetron would be turned on continuously, while on 200W the magnetron could be turned on for 15 seconds and then off for 45 seconds, so it would only be on a quarter of the time. But during the time it's on, all settings take the same power.

[@avalon8257]

This has to be the most someone has said ‘microwave’ in one video. I wasn’t even listening halfway through, I was counting the microwaves

[@kenneyblanton]

14 microwave(s)

[@LK-Opinions]

And they don't all have the same meaning 😅

[@Mythraen]

And now you should talk to a psychiatrist for your ADHD... Unless you've done that already.

[@rynovoski]

I call it a science oven.

[@avalon8257]

Yeeeaaaah did that

[@MrKazeDBlackwind]

Last time I put metal in the microwave I saw a mosh pit of sparks but couldn't play that CD ever again

[@mlc4495]

I once accidentally left a fork on the side of a plate of some crap I wanted heated and immediately saw the Auroras appear. Don't put metal objects in your microwave people.

[@poe526]

You just made me want to leave metal in my microwave

[@anthonymarshall.martial1908]

@@poe526do it

[@ShayerSUtsho]

@@poe526 Exactly! That's more intriguing than deterring.

[@lookatel3658]

Specifically within your kitchen?

[@hedition9346]

I did the same, a metal fork. It was more than 2 seconds but I could hear the sparks. In another instance I left the foil wrap on a burger and microwaved it. It started burning the paper side of the wrap. I don't know what happen if I leave those for a full minute, but I don't wanna find out in my own house.

[@BrowithStoryCool]

You're completely missing the point, if you put in a random piece of metal, it's ungrounded and doesn't surround the microwave, it's free standing, so it acts like an antenna. Intense microwaves cause massive potential to be induced across it (voltage), which causes breakdown of air and conduction (giant sparks). "concentrating microwaves" like this guy says is a tiny effect

[@imsohigh4520]

Thank you, now this I can understand. The video guy is kinda slow for a lack of better words that utube doesn’t allow anyone to use, and didn’t explain it very well.

[@trw8777]

​@@imsohigh4520He does general science stuff but he only barely scratches the surface. He could tell the biggest bs and viewers would not notice since they don't know anything about it.

[@mrooz9065]

Aren’t you saying the same?

[@nadaburner]

@@mrooz9065 I think they are saying the new metal object attracts and absorbs too much micro-waves and all that concentrated energy shoots out as sparks. Pretty much the same thing just slightly more detailed.

[@BrowithStoryCool]

@@mrooz9065 The "why" is different. He's not wrong, but it's a tiny effect compared to what I said. The antenna thing I mention has nothing to do with "concentrating" the microwaves...at worst, what he says makes your food cook a little less evenly, instead of the death shower of sparks you'll get

[@MissSchala]

The subtext in “and then PLASMAFY THE AIR IN YOUR MICROWAVE” is perfectly delivered! 😂😂😱

[@philburdell9235]

for those of us lesser intelligent, can you explain what the subtext is

[@interycreeper1152]

​@@philburdell9235I mean do you want the air in your kitchen appliances to plasmify?

[@philburdell9235]

@@interycreeper1152 is that what the subtext is

[@Ribbons0121R121]

Wise words from an electrician I’ve heard As long as it doesn’t touch the walls of the microwave you’re ok, you can make plasma by microwaving a grape But if your oatmeal spoon touches the walls it could very easily melt and create a hole where the microwaves escape and burn things Won’t explode tho they’re not vacuum sealed

[@misssue4043]

I appreciate that intelligent information spoken with such concise terminology. This man deserves it all❤

[@Worldpeace12343]

You can wap a metal fork in a sock, and it still will spark. No bouncing microwaves

[@nicoledykstra9683]

So can we put metal in there or no? 😂

[@mactsai5652]

⁠@@nicoledykstra9683No ma’am.

[@sandpaperunderthetable6708]

​@THenny33 yes bouncing microwaves. Your sock isn't metallic, so microwaves can penetrate it, and it reaches the fork, and the fork causes the weird bouncing microwaves.

[@fozpringle1]

And a condescending tone

[@Ben-ex1kv]

I remember explaining this to my mom a few years ago. She didn't believe me till i stuck a spoon in my science microwave for a good couple minutes to no effect but a hot spoon, then did the same with a fork and the thing was buzzing and sparkling in seconds. Like Hank said don't put metal in your microwave, but if you are gonna do it, do it in your science microwave, not your food microwave and have a fire extinguisher handy

[@thecr3at0r75]

I had to do the same thing. Also, microwaving your spoon does make it perfect for scooping ice cream.

[@MrsJolene-]

My forks don't spark at all! I can put whole ass metal pots in it, a metal rack, knives,... No alu foil tho! But my grandmother's ancient microwave will throw a fit at any metal. I think those heavy wattage old ones are more prone to sparking.

[@vipvip-tf9rw]

​@@MrsJolene- thin metal produce sparks but thicker one shouldn't

[@Yiningwu5622]

​@@thecr3at0r75just microwave a cup of water and let the spoon warm up in there lol

[@thecr3at0r75]

@@Yiningwu5622 true, but the microwave is quicker. And you get to cause concern in any bystanders.

[@eviloatmeal]

My mantra, every time I turn on the microwave: "It's non-ionising. Non-ionising. It can't hurt you. It's just spicy wi-fi."

[@Uncleharkinian]

If it helps you at all, I work in radio I spend all day around non-ionizing radiation, tho not usually 900Mhz (we do use 900mhz point to point connections for sending audio) but 530Khz to 1.7Mhz and 88Mhz to 108Mhz (plus I dabble in GMRS which sits in the 400Mhz band) I’m perfectly fine, going on 5 years in the job, I know guys in their 80s who started when they were 11 and honestly, they are in better shape then me! 😅

[@richmondvand147]

.... Spicey wi-fi? I'm gonna steal that haha

[@danloeser]

Not to mention, we've been playing with ghz-range radio waves since the 1890s. They can cause thermal burns, of course, that's why microwave ovens work in the first place. But if there were any other long-term effects on the human body, we would have noticed by now.

[@Uncleharkinian]

@@danloeser yes RF burns are always possible, more so for me less likely for the mass public

[@YounesLayachi]

I also has these irrational thoughts until I watched MrGreenGuy (NileGreen)'s video about microwaves. Really helped put me at ease xD Turns out that without the amplification of the oven's cage , the waves are extremely weak and can't really do anything. So even if you punch a hole through the side panels, what leaks out is pretty much harmless.

[@marc_428]

I once put a coffee cup with a rubber coated metal handle not realizing it. The cup was on fire 🔥 in the microwave. Took forever to get the smell of burnt rubber out!! Good times😊

[@lundoknex2571]

Don't put metal in the microwave!

[@theoriginaldeity]

Too lazy to take the spoon out of the bowl lol nothings happened yet

[@WouldntULikeToKnow.]

Also "don't eat grass!"

[@godslayer9000]

​@@theoriginaldeity probably because the concave part of the spoon is under the food, and is being "protected" by it, so it can't focus microwaves like lens, and the handle of the spoon isn't a weird enough shape to do anything substantial with the microwaves.

[@theoriginaldeity]

@@godslayer9000 so microwave with the shovel upwards gotcha

[@nene_blimboblambo]

+

[@cameronhart6109]

Never heard the word microwave being used in a conversation this much. Lol

[@judychurley6623]

We used to call it the radar range but I think that was Amanda trade name.

[@zephyr9949]

Take a shot each time Hank says microwave

[@kipo8454]

Bet

[@samanthathick6724]

I'd be passed out before I got half way thru the short lol

[@83dude]

More like drink a gallon of soy

[@penguinplus1238]

@@kipo8454 this dude has not come back to us yet. hank killed another

[@lordbob1364]

This is the problem with telling people not to do something without explaining why

[@DevinOfBacon]

I always just thought it was a specific type of metal that wouldn't be affected by the microwave.

[@ivoryas1696]

@DevinOfBacon _Kinda_ same. I've *_definitely kept spoons or forks in with things that are being heated without issue, but the microwaves were probably just being absorbed _before *or after_* being reflected. In short order too, considering how much water there must have been surrounding it...

[@dennisddt1146]

@@ivoryas1696 My question is why tf were you microwaving water?

[@ivoryas1696]

@@dennisddt1146 Oh, I meant the water _in_ the milk. I don't really do water very often...

[@meegssan5716]

I put a thermos in the microwave for 13 seconds, nothing happened but i stopped it after realizing what i did.

[@bilelsicario]

@@meegssan5716this one had no business being this funny to me

[@nannerz1994]

I love when I don't pay attention to what channel posted and I get surprised by Hank

[@twistedthe1]

Scrunched up ball of tinfoil: 🗿

[@Pelicanmcgee]

I've definitely microwaved a few forks, and my microwave is still kicking

[@rmt3589]

Thank you for explaining the Faraday cage in the microwave. Gonna send this to mom because she listens to you.

[@jakeboss2653]

Every single time i open my microwave, I ask myself this very question, with a metal rack sitting in there

[@Penguuproduction]

What rack

[@pokakota8539]

@@Penguuproduction I think they're talking about that tray thingy that u can put your plate onto so the plate is higher and closer to the grill (some microwaves have a grill function, spirals that heat up acting as one).

[@SmallGirlBigWorld_]

Stainless steel is safe it’s aluminum that is dangerous.

[@racheldaggett8773]

I was so confused when I bought my house with a built in microwave that had a metal rack in it. Everytime I microwaved there were little sparks near one of the corners of the rack everytime, so I took it out. Never tried the rack again, still don't trust it.

[@LFOVCF]

Radio waves cannot penetrate the rod metal, its made from, but aluminium foil will spark

[@AceWolf456]

"That's not metal IN the microwave, that metal IS the microwave! Don't put more metal into the metal box!"

[@anivijudi]

Oh. I knew that aluminium could burst into flames, but I never really wandered why specifically or how it would translate to other metals. Thanks for this very clear explanation!

[@ohrats731]

I hadn’t had an issue remembering not to put metal in the microwave until I bought a different brand of butter one time lol. I guess the wrapper was some sort of coated tin foil instead of my usual brand’s coated paper. Luckily I was just softening it on the lowest setting, but I got a little light show lol

[@Luminaria999]

That happened to me too😂

[@boxedming]

Tf? Why not just use creamy butter?

[@ohrats731]

@@boxedming it was for a baking recipe and I had forgotten to soften the butter at room temperature ahead of time

[@boxedming]

@@ohrats731 makes sense then

[@dstinnettmusic]

Love the arc of Hank being a public servant for science. Feels like Hank has handled the realization that “it doesn’t ever end until you do” better than John.

[@JamaalDaGreatest]

Sorry for my ignorance but who is John

[@Godchinzilla]

Hank’s brother

[@lujainaahmed3580]

This one short made me follow immediately cus idk I love when someone enthusiastically explains these random ass things I will 100% be wondering about, thank you for explaining!

[@jeffsoutherland4855]

Same lol

[@UnifiedInfo]

Ya'll are in for a treat with this guy👌

[@perfesser944]

If you knew physics, you would realize that the metallic cladding of a microwave is a Faraday's cage, designed to prevent the microwaves from exiting the device.

[@niapri]

Hank and John are both just the biggest blessings ❤

[@miliksmith5685]

Truly

[@CamGood-ji9yo]

Who is John?

[@melisastone231]

The end sounded like a personal thing, I frickin love the green brothers so much with their emphasis and tone 😂

[@JenningsFilmsinc]

He's condescending

[@josukeshair8891]

@@JenningsFilmsincnaw he just fruity

[@anwesha791]

Good to see you bouncing back from the Chemo so well Hank!!❤

[@Simpleaxe59Gaming]

Every time I say “metal doesn’t react with the microwaves it reflects and concentrates them” people treat me like I just said a demonic incantation 💀

[@Jambalayyyyaaaa]

So, moral of the story is I can put some metal in the microwave if I can calculate exactly how it will behave?

[@isidoreaerys8745]

Tbh in culinary school we put aluminum and stainless steel mixing bowls in the microwave all the time. Chef was like don’t worry it’s fine. And it always was fine. Tried it once at home and it acccidentally touched the side of the microwave and left a scorch mark there

[@Greksallad]

Some food packaging that you're supposed to microwave actually contain metal so it's not necessarily dangerous or bad just because it's metal. Even some non-metal things can fuck with the microwaves if they're the right shape, like a fork - never put something fork-shaped in a microwave. The best rule is just to not put anything unnecessary in there to avoid any potential damage to you or your kitchen

[@gonzaloruiz4406]

Fun fact the little circles in the side of the microwave are called wave cavities, and are designed to bounce the microwave RF waves (the ones heating your food) but they allow light to go through. That’s why we can see the inside of the microwave, cause otherwise the light would also be trapped inside

[@cjwild1]

Just to anyone wondering the bouncing occurs due to the “size” of the wavelength. Visible light is only a couple hundred nanometers “wide” where as a microwave produces light with a wavelength bigger than the circles. In effect the mesh acts like a shape sorter for light only allowing “small” wavelength light to pass while reflecting longer/“bigger” wavelengths back inside.

[@autlos7751]

Yup, the little holes in layman terms also serve to keep the microwave cooking things INSIDE the microwave instead of cooking OUTSIDE of it

[@taiyoctopus2958]

The door reflects microwaves because the wavelength of the microwaves are actually larger (trough to crest) than those holes are wide. Microwaves are actually large in their wavelength, compared to light waves or radio waves. I tripped out when I learned that.

[@lupinsvinyls]

​@@cjwild1microwaves produce light with waves bigger than the circle? The lightwaves are reflected back inside? What wave is actually cooking the food. Your comment is worded wrong or im just confused after reading it and not understanding it.

[@dftp]

​​@@lupinsvinylsSo it's all Electromagnetic radiation. The microwaves are the radiation that bounces around inside heating your food and their wavelength is too big to pass through the metal while visible light is small enough to pass through the metal allowing you to look inside it while it's operating. The light inside a microwave oven of course comes from a normal lamp in there while the microwaves are generated by a separate emitter (it has a specific name but I don't remember it right now, you can probably look it up)

[@SpeakerOfWords]

Those metal gears are solid

[@orchetect7415]

Wait until he finds out those little hooks are made for inserting a metal rack into the microwave

[@markmedrano3085]

You can't put metal in a microwave but only if there are no sharp edges. Sharp edges cause focus points that you see as plasma. Aluminum foil has sharp edges all around it.

[@BooBaddyBig]

You can actually even use foil in a microwave if you keep it smooth. It's used to shield bits of chicken to stop them cooking too fast.

[@Vidar93]

​@@BooBaddyBigThings Like the sleeves for hot pockets literally have metal on the interior to create a crispy crust.

[@toxxicx]

I put a teacup in the microwave once that I didn't know had metal in it. I found out because it started sparking. The metal was just a tiny silver line near the rim of the cup. No sharp edges.

[@nordicmind82]

Remember, you MUST put a spoon in glasses/cups when heating water. Superheating is real, not that rare, and can destroy your life. This must by law be clarified in all modern microwave manuals in Europe. Mythbusters was so long ago and people have forgotten, but the accidents where people miss to put a spoon in are getting more common.

[@asterling4]

​@@BooBaddyBig that is some really dangerous advice, considering one mistake could lead to a devastating fire. better not.

[@Sekmhet]

Years ago, our microwave had a metal rack just like a regular oven. And one day the door wasn’t properly shut, the rack “just” touched the door and melted the screen on the door on that spot. That microwave even had a metal temperature probe that plugged into the inside wall!

[@ootdega]

I have that exact microwave. It is currently 42 years old and it still works great. 1400 watts, built in 1982. I have the owner's manual and everything. Got it for 25 bucks, because someone was too dumb to wash the ceiling inside it. Adjusted for inflation, this microwave was $2000 new. Just make sure nothing is touching metal to metal. It's fine.

[@IgnisInfinitus]

I had a microwave like that. I was surprised when I actually took the time and realized that yes that rack was metal and it was in the microwave.

[@cupcakey8777]

We had the Sharp Carousel II and it came with 2 metal racks (different heights) with ceramic feet that could be used in the microwave. The boss thing about that is it was a convection oven as well. Of couser you could not use metal bakeware in there on microwave but still... best microwave EVER!!!

[@squidfizzy]

Haven't seen you in a while sir, you're looking great, glad to see you again.

[@beegreen249]

Oh, Now I know why my microwave door burned. Oh sh*t I need to clean my microwave.

[@egg2535]

I love when hank answers questions ive always wondered but felt too silly to ask

[@ryike7857]

"First of all, don't put metal in the microwave" is where I lost it. It was like he was talking to a kid 😂😂

[@manuel0578]

I put metal in microwaves all the time. Mostly forks and spoons or even aluminum plates. It’s really not an issue as long as any sharp corners of the metal are covered with food that contains water. What you don’t want is a fork that’s exposed in the microwave because you‘ll get sparks between its prongs. This is because electric fields get really strong on sharp corners of metal objects and if there’s just air between the prongs the air can get ionized easily. Having an exposed spoon is really not an issue at all, it can just get very hot.

[@AddyZed1203]

Because unfortunately Social media has caused a steep regression in intellect, and what is taught isn’t explained in any detail because nobody has enough critical thinking skills to understand what is being told to them.

[@ryike7857]

@manuel0578 I've definitely had the prongs exposed before 😳 but that's very interesting. Thanks 👍🏻

[@ShaunDreclin]

I wish they taught us at a younger age that all em radiation is the same stuff at different wavelengths. Would help so much understanding how they work

[@bootmii98]

Shorter wavelength = Higher frequency = More energy

[@lightingboltbolt4167]

"dont tell me what to do" *throws tens of forks in the microwave* - a savage random dude

[@ithurtsdoesntit]

If our parents explained things to us like this I think the world would be an incredible place

[@bstaff812]

Yeah we'd all be dumb still trying to figure out the answer.

[@trsskater]

Lol yes. The problem also is their parents didn't explain crap to them either. So they do what their parents did and continued to not explain crap.

[@bbvivs]

you say this like it's common information that all adults, let alone boomers would know 😭?

[@braintennant69]

And we would all have low self esteem aswell, because of the seemingly snarky and douchy way we got the answer. Kinda like this Hank guy😀...🙄

[@ithurtsdoesntit]

@@bbvivs It is pretty common to know exactly how a microwave works... All I'm saying it would be a brighter world if kids were given thorough answers and explanations, idk how u grumps can think otherwise.

[@ishanappukuddy5151]

He has such a fantastic way of explaining things

[@MoloIongo]

Am I the only one who thinks he sounds like Dwight Schrute from The Office?

[@Muslim_Ab]

Bro is him 🥶🥶🗣️🗣️🗣️

[@jiffylou98]

For those unaware, the little thing that makes the microwave happen, the thing that makes the microwaves happen, is made of metal too. The awesomely named Magnetron is shaped so it forms little pockets of plasma that shoots out radiation at your food. So the thing youre avoiding by not putting metal in your microwave is...another microwave.

[@seniknine]

This is the sassiest, educating lecture ive ever listened to

[@Thestoryteller-55]

First off I like the cautionary statement in the beginning 😂

[@AtoZAnimationsandStories]

The twins look like Jerry from Monsters vs Aliens.