Why Microwaves Stay Inside The Microwave

[@smaza2]

it's because they know what's out there

[@Afif87123]

I don't get it

[@MakerManX]

​@Afif87123 the microwaves would rather stay out of our society

[@barsaf9989]

@@Afif87123 he's talking about people on tiktok

[@JerryLi]

Lmfao

[@elishahocking2885]

🤷🏼‍♂️fair enough

[@smmmokin]

This is actually an outside of the box idea that works. I've always wondered how my boy Riley hasn't run out of ideas yet.

[@AbiRizky]

Pretty sure the idea is INSIDE the box

[@NightDoge]

I thought it was Jon who wrote all these Techquikie videos. He’s still listed in the credits as the author and he’s been writing for this channel for a long time (maybe the longest in LTT’s remaining legacy staff). Although Riley and other hosts may edit the presentation, I always assumed that the core content of these videos were researched and written by Jon.

[@Arrynek01]

Creative people have the opposite problem. There's too many ideas to ever bring to reality. Some are dumb, some are amazing... and it's a learned skill recognizing which is which.

[@ZZ-vl5nd]

​@@AbiRizkypretty sure it's inside the microwave

[@EpicWink]

Moreover, the reason there is a gap between the glass window and the mesh is due to evanescent waves: an exponential decay of the field strength outside the waveguide (in this case Faraday cage). If there was no gap, you could cook your skin by putting it up against the glass

[@BraydenPrice30]

So Techquickie is doing science now? Honestly, I'm here for it.

[@AmEv7fam]

Science Technology Engineering Mathematics

[@firdaus99031]

​@@AmEv7famCan't wait for techquikie doing calculus II 😂

[@Rem_NL]

Can't wait for techquikie explaining how cloths can stop the spreading of covid.

[@BraydenPrice30]

@@AmEv7fam Understandable, but *Tech*-quicke has always been *tech*-focused. It seems to me like this is one video that lies solely in the Science realm.

[@GameTimeWhy]

​@@Rem_NLnice bait

[@JeffFromMichigan]

Timing was impeccable. I’m using my microwave right now. I was just thinking about how it works.

[@noodleman9945]

Hmmm… what a coincidence. I hope you enjoy your meal.

[@SecretAgentPaul]

Your microwave is transmitting back to home base at KZbin.

[@spraynardkruger6426]

I have no idea why they're covering this, but if you enjoyed it, look up "technology connections". I don't care about the science behind kitchen appliances but I still watch all his videos because he's so entertaining.

[@Metal_Maxine]

or look up "styropyro" and check out his over-powered laser-based "microwave" and the resulting cuisine.

[@jasonfullerton7763]

Tech Connections is like my nerdiest of my nerd channels, and for some reason I'll listen to an hour dissertation on electric kettles or LED Christmas lights.

[@yaktone2239]

This was great. I love broadening tech quickie's scope like this.

[@PalaWootje]

My old microwave used to affect my old CRT monitor through a wall 😳 I could always tell when someone was using the microwave.

[@vancouvercomedyuncensoredv8240]

Probably because it drew allot of power

[@Carhill]

Yeah, that would be the AC flipping the strong magnetic field produced by the magnetron / transformer on the microwave. This interrupts the electrons between the CRT and the phosphate film on the screen as it overpowers the weaker magnets that are used to aim the electrons while it scans.

[@plazmaguy13yago9]

@@Carhill impeccable explanation 🤌

[@stitchfan_8290]

I remember that. Wait for the commercial to make popcorn was the rule in our house. The crazy thing was, as a kid, I had a toy microwave that ran on C batteries. It caused the same kind of interference on the TV as the real microwave.

[@kirkmooneyham]

Believe it or not, the older a microwave gets, the more likely it will "leak". I haven't been able to pin down why, but we had a work microwave that would knock out the wifi in the breakroom. Bought a new one out of snackbar money, and viola!, wifi was good to go.

[@dginx]

Riley's jokes are a lot like microwaves. They always hit the right spot and nothing else.

[@AtomicCodeX]

Please make more science videos like this, and more programming and web stuff, your content is too good for what's new in windows 11

[@QuichardBitzgerald]

More of a science quickie, and I knew all this info, but I like this angle and hope to see more.

[@robertlazorko7350]

The mixed use of metric and imperial units in this video makes me die a little inside

[@doordashdriver]

I don't have a microwave oven, I have a clock that occasionally cooks stuff.

[@riinaldo]

never thought id see a Techquickie on microwaves

[@mitchellj.9360]

Hey LTTeam, I feel like i've noticed an increase in host speaking errors being corrected by text on screen. Would like to see the scene reshot instead, which would feel more appropriate to your usual production quality

[@raistlinmajere1000]

Maybe they find it difficult taking into account the increasing number of videos per week. They already said they had tight schedules with 25 videos, now more with the new channel game linked

[@Midicow]

With what they have to do to keep afloat, I'd rather they put out a video with a text correction than put out no vidieo.

[@mitchellj.9360]

@@raistlinmajere1000 IMO if the production value is falling, they are expanding too quickly

[@neekster28]

I agree, but for the production cadence that their company runs at, its a lot easier to just write in a correction.

[@richmahogany1]

Must be the new CEO "churn em out chop chop chop more viddys = more cashola go go go"

[@harshaddhokale2176]

This channel is real tech channel, which is not limited to smartphone unboxing 😊😊

[@CaseyEm]

Did you know the USDA has instructions for how to microwave a turkey? For a 14 pound turkey (the largest most microwaves can accommodate), you need to cook it for 126-140 minutes (2 hours 6 minutes-2 hours 20 minutes) at 50% power.

[@gamagama69]

ew

[@CyanRooper]

Meanwhile Shaggy can eat a 14 pound turkey in 2 minutes using 5% of his power.

[@arnezbridges93]

​@@gamagama69sigh, there's Two types of microwaves. If you have a CONVECTION food comes out pretty normal. That $39 dollar microwave isn't going to give you crispy skin turkey.

[@little_forest]

:D 50% of what power? :P Every device can have a different maximum power.

[@ZepG]

Next week on the LTT channel, "How to overclock your microwave for more performance" after this ad from our sponser.

[@layk]

But storing radioactive materials in household appliances was my favourite method, Riley.

[@avicohen2k]

Best simple to the point explanation I've heard 👍

[@gohopoho3903]

Interesting choice for a Techquickie video

[@raistlinmajere1000]

You have amazing editors.

[@brunobragaw8t]

For a second I thought a css framework was sponsoring a microwave video. Weird world.

[@gqinc1202]

Guess I'll have to store my radium in a toaster oven then

[@GSBarlev]

Have you seen the prices for radium these days?? I always store mine in the safest possible place--stuffed inside my mattress.

[@gqinc1202]

@GSBarlev yes, but, have you ever seen the episode of spongebob where Mr.Krabs has his money hidden in his mattress, didn't go well for him. Can you think of a time someone stole anything someone had stored in a toaster?

[@GSBarlev]

@@gqinc1202 the joke here is that Radium is highly, um, radioactive, and storing a large quantity centimeters from where I spend eight hours a night would make me a strong contender for this year's Darwin award.

[@gqinc1202]

@GSBarlev i sleep on a pile of radium filled toasters with lead lined sheets, wouldn't want to be dangerous now (also the toasters are plugged in to keep the bed warm)

[@j502nd]

If microwaves stay inside, why does it affect the WiFi signal?

[@DerekGreen15]

Because they aren't perfectly sealed. A little bit of the radiation does tend to leak out around the door, but nowhere near enough to be physically harmful to people.

[@ShaneH42]

Some microwave ovens, especially older ones, don’t block 100% of the microwaves from escaping and it only takes the tiniest leak to interfere with Wi-Fi. Not a problem with 5Ghz Wi-Fi though

[@Carhill]

There may be small manufacturing defects, damage over time, or perhaps just poor design / manufacturing (low quality product). These would all lead to leaks, and given the magnetron operates at ~2.4GHz in order to excite the water molecules (as well as some fats and sugars), it can conflict with your Router / Access Point that utilizes the same EM band. Small leaks aren't harmful.

[@SubOxyde]

I was wondering the same thing. Thanks for all the smarty pants answers everyone! 💯🔥

[@KingBobXVI]

​@@ShaneH42 - Not to mention more modern microwaves are much better at sealing the waves in, which is why "microwaves interfering with WiFi" is... well, not really that much of a thing anymore. As a side note, I don't really remember it ever affecting wifi - by the time wifi was common, I think better seals were already in place. The main issue older microwaves coincided with were cordless home telephones, which they absolutely did harm the signal on.

[@DoubleD20s]

With reference to the comments at 1:30 about heating up the food, I immediately thought of an observation in a Chris Brookmyre novel. One of the characters has a theory that microwaves actually heat up crockery, and the warming of food is a mere by-product.

[@Starfals]

From what i know, those tiny holes on the door block the rays from going outside. Its actually genius and useful too. So we can still see inside!

[@Aeturnalis]

2:42 skip ad

[@REEESEY]

at my old job, the faraday cage on the microwave's door had a hole burned in it (maybe 5mm x 20mm) i was able to measure it from outside (the the metal detector phone app) i got a reading over 100 uT, with the limits for non-ionizing radiation being at ~90uT to the head and 60 to the body, that put it outside those limits. essentially, lightly cooking anything within a foot of that hole. I reported it to management, who neither understood nor cared

[@CaptainFSU]

This...this may be the greatest question of our time...

[@ilovefunnyamv2nd]

radiation does in fact leak from the microwave, we have the same 'good enough' design as they had back in the 90's, and there is some leakage which results in interference with wifi and other devices on the 2.4 ghz band. but this is a non issue from a couple feet away. I use wireless headphones and can't get too close while nuking something, otherwise the signal gets distorted or even disconnected

[@Gryfang451]

I remember wiping a CD in a microwave. Don't do this with a microwave you care about, but do watch it if you do. It will glow brightly around it a few times. The smell and fumes are probably not good, and the smell continues to linger when you use the microwave for a few days.

[@tonymouannes]

That's burned plastic, absolutely bad to inhale. It can stick in your lungs forever.

[@ItsFinnAgain]

Missed opportunity to use the eric andre meme at 2:49

[@microbuilder]

0:15 *In my best Jim Gaffigan voice* _hooootpocket_

[@mikecoshan3752]

Loved the cartoon clips showing how to catch a microwave in the wild with a metal box & a popcorn as a lure. I will have to try that 🤔

[@FullmetalDragon1212]

I already knew what the mesh was for but I didn't actually know why the mesh worked thanks for the info!

[@SchnitzelDaemon]

That was some excellent editing there!

[@flaviokauling1436]

Riley, you’re awesome! Been watching your videos since before Linus “found you the dumpster”. Keep it up!

[@philippegosselin7756]

this was really interesting. would love to see other videos like this in the future

[@andrekz9138]

Chemist here: flippin' excited about the chemistry and physics here. Btw, Dr Ian Cutress (TechTechPotato) has his PhD in chemistry. He'd have been a fun guest on here. *ignores NDT knocking on the door and windows*

[@BrandEver117]

Radium should NOT be kept in a microwave! It should be kept in your watch factory, so your workers can easily lick it

[@ShadowGirl-]

Always love these, mostly because of Riley!!

[@Bill_Woo]

I saw a demonstration with a meter, showing higher readings within a few feet of the unit. That's right, standing next to a microwave. I wish I could locate it to tell you where. I don't think it was Technology Connections

[@Bill_Woo]

One science website (YT shad dough bands when I posts URLs): "However, while there should be almost no radiation escaping from the chamber, it’s best not to press your nose up against the door the entire time your food is heating up. It’s safer to stand on the other side of the kitchen so your exposure is reduced to none, he said." What?? It's best to stand on the other side of the kitchen??

[@neondemon5137]

What's the problem? Some microwaves can leak a little, it's fine.

[@tactileslut]

Linus showed interference from the oven while tracking down that wireless speaker issue in one of the videos here.

[@ThisRandomGuyYouDidntNotice]

Techquickie covering more than just PC and gaming Tech? Nice! Keep it coming! However how could you miss the opportunity to point out if/how microwaves can mess with Wifi signals? :D

[@tay.0]

This is the first Riley-Video that doesn't talk about the confusing USB standard - big Like

[@voltare2amstereo]

microwave ovens are why wifi is 2.4ghz - the band was already messy so they let the band be used 'unlicenced'

[@ernestcline2868]

While most microwave ovens use the 2.45 GHz ISM band, there are some industrial microwave ovens that use the 915 MHz ISM band. That band is more penetrating and it's only available for use in ITU Region 2 (the Americas) so it never got used for home microwave ovens.

[@spycozelot]

darn I was sure my 10kg radium was safe in the microwave XD

[@AbiRizky]

You're building something there bud?

[@GSBarlev]

​@@AbiRizkyAre you as Curie-ous as to what he's up to as I am? Well, I'm not about to start Roentgen about safety precautions--that would make me a complete Bohr.

[@AbiRizky]

@@GSBarlev man I thought I was a nerd

[@stephenriggs8177]

I worked at a bank drive-through that had a microwave that would operate with the door open. My friend and co-worker demonstrated this party trick during my first day on the job. We always cooked food with the door closed. I'm not too worried. I grew up living just south of a row of refineries. That probably did a lot more harm than a few seconds with an open microwave door. 😏

[@renatoigmed]

I learned this from Beakman's World Season 1 Ep. 20 "Microwaves, Beakmania and Spiders" on 10 Apr. 1993 and the next day I taught my classmates how it works. wow, it's been 30 years!

[@LittleShmuplet]

Someone needs to send this to Jerma

[@JonRowlison]

...and it's why everyone used to lose WiFi signal near the kitchen when the microwave was running. :) (the 2.4ghz bands.)

[@351]

this is genuinely everything i was too afraid to ask about microwaves

[@ayoCC]

Ever since I heard microwaves make water molecules spin, I thought it was a machine that is a magnet, switching from positive to negative 😂 But certain types of low wavelength light just has that property, so basically microwaves actually radiate a type of invisible light or electromagnetic radiation (basically light)

[@dons5885]

And 2.4G and 4G and 5g and 6g. All those cell phone wave are in the 2.4 and up wave length. So, you're walking around a big microwave when you step out your door or hold that phone to your head.

[@Wild_Sheep_Chase]

So, a while ago I bought a microwavable dinner that came in an aluminum container (sorry can't recall the brand). Thinking that was weird, I looked at the instructions and saw they included a blurb about how aluminum is safe in microwaves (probably because my skepticism about the packaging wasn't unusual). Are common metals actually completely safe aside from the sparking? Have we been lied to our whole lives? Or is there just a low chance of risk from the sparking that's worth avoiding whenever possible? TIA

[@GSBarlev]

The key bit is that the metal is *flat* -- a crinkled piece of aluminum like a Chipotle burrito wrapper will get those sparky bits like the fork in the video. And putting in metal on its own is never safe--metal doesn't absorb the energy, it only reflects it (which is likely why it's used in the packaging--to help redirect the waves into the noms).

[@craesh]

The microwave oven itself is made of metal. Metal will heat up as any other material. The problem are pointy or concave objects, like forks or knives. Microwaves induce eddy currents in metal, leading to high voltages and EM fields. It will create sparks, which can melt metal and/or damage the electronics in or around the device. Smooth, convex metal surfaces are safe, though.

[@reyariass]

Is it possible to beam electricity from a microwave to, say, a drone for unlimited fly time using microwaves? Maybe all that is needed is to have the drone communicate with the beam so it can point it at the drone and also make the drone out of metal or at least have an 8 inch wide spot to focus the beam on for electricity?

[@v3kanon]

You missed the perfect chance to sneak in a Steins;gate reference on leaving the microwave door opened.

[@semmu93]

also are the microwaves within the device standing waves? im not sure about it, but that would explain the rotating plate within, which would help with heating up the food evenly, as it always moves around (tho not perfectly)

[@kepeter97]

really balanced explanation. casual enough, but still enough technical details and correct facts.

[@little_forest]

As a science educator I have to disagree...

[@dolex161]

Is Riley the new Bill Nye?! They both have great hair, and the smarts of course.

[@animephilic7771]

this guy has the best presentation skill in the whole LTT industry

[@ivanmaglica264]

Hey, you forgot to mention it resonates at 2.4GHz (speed of light / 2.4GHz = size of the H20 molecule), which is the reason 2.4GHz is unlicensed spectrum and is the reason why WiFi stops working when oven is on.

[@tonymouannes]

He didn't forget that, he just didn't got that deep. Every wave resonates at its own frequency.

[@craesh]

Water actually resonates somewhere about 10 GHz. But if you would use that frequency, you wouldn't be able to penetrate any moist object. The surface would absolve the full power. Instead, the microwave is detuned from the resonance frequency so that it can penetrate up to about 10cm into any moist object. At the end, you want your meal to be cooked inside as well. The wave length is about 12cm, btw. That's not the size of a water molecule.

[@ivanmaglica264]

@@craesh Thank you for explanation. I have to admit I did not dive deep to check that. Guess I have to dust off my old physics books...

[@markusTegelane]

Here's an experiment you can try: put your phone inside a microwave oven that is turned off, then try calling to it (but never turn on the microwave oven with the cell phone inside, because it'll definitely get fried) In theory, it shouldn't start ringing, because it's in a Faraday cage

[@RozayMalikOG]

I was just wondering about this randomly in my head😮😅

[@MichaelMarquez-m3b]

The microwave oven is basically a cavity with length equal to one half the wavelength of the EM radiation being used so that a standing wave is supported in the cavity. It is basically the same concept as an acoustical wave in a musical instrument.

[@shanent5793]

Wouldn't that wavelength change once you put anything inside the oven? How does it stay resonant?

[@MichaelMarquez-m3b]

@@shanent5793 The food you put in would definitely have some dielectric constant associated with it and would shorten the wavelength some but by how much I really don’t know. It would depend on the index of refraction of the food at the microwave frequency range. I’m sure there is a certain bandwidth associated with the microwave emission and it isn’t a perfect dirac delta function. So whatever change in the effective resonant wavelength the food causes is likely within the bandwidth of the microwave energy source.

[@Kelocyde]

If Riley (or the teleprompter team) gets it wrong, why not re-film it?

[@nintenster]

They know their place. They wouldn't be a microwave if they left it

[@jesus2621]

Finally some useful information in this channel

[@xp7575]

Lmfao

[@bebetterbone689]

Absolutely love it when you can laugh and learn something

[@PurpleKnightmare]

I love this, thank you!

[@sysghost]

Remember kids. This is the channel that invented microwaved zombie meat hamburgers.

[@Vashnik]

Random information I never really thought about until now and now my curiosity has been sated. Good thing Bethesda doesn't make Microwaves ovens. I'd hate to see the result of a bugged Microwave oven.

[@naffnaffbobface6548]

Noice slice of Science of a Tuesday morning!

[@IGStevenWHY]

NGL if a restrunt did a Minecraft Zombie Burger, i'd defo try it

[@carltonleboss]

You like rotten flesh?

[@malccy72]

"Hulk loves Gamma Rays"

[@GabrielForth]

But you forgot that time we used microwaves to thaw and reanimate hamsters! Somebody get Tom Scott in here pronto!

[@doogie812]

I love LTT and Techquickie but it sounds like you got this functional description from How Stuff Works which is incorrect. The molecules don't spin they shake and the action is not limited to polar hydroxyls. A candle placed in a microwave will light. Oils will heat to the point where they melt plastics. It is the molecular density of what is placed in a microwave field that will determine how much shaking will occur.

[@moeen-shah]

1 # This is a Techquickie video 2 # About microwaves 3 # Doesn't talk about it's interference with wifi The tech Gods must be angry

[@chasapple4]

Should mention the Mythbusters episode about microwaves

[@Accolades70]

great info /// How far do the Microwaves Penetrate objects/food?

[@MarcusWolfWanders]

I knew some of this, and I learned some more that I didn't know. cool beans! or, warm beans, thanks to my microwave?

[@PlaceholderforBjorn]

This is why I want to find a big used microwave for my radio experiments. As I don't have the money that LTT have to build a real EMI chamber.

[@BasztekPL]

if microwave can block all microwaves escaping, why is my 2.4gh wifi not working?

[@harmoneyes]

Can’t wait for the Air fryer episode

[@fernandolozano9898]

Why does the mesh block the waves based on the wavelength and not the amplitude? I can stick long or short things through a chain linked fence, but I can’t stick big things through it. Where am I going wrong in my thought process?

[@derekengler9216]

For a video idea here's one... How does a surge protector work?

[@bojugai9174]

3:24 "...4.8 inches in size, which is way bigger than these holes...", that's what she said.

[@venumV2]

i always wait till the microwave is finished beeping

[@ekauq2000]

Also, and don’t ask me now I know this, but nuking an optical disc for a few seconds will damage it, making it unreadable.

[@ItsFinnAgain]

Why and what disc? Hypothetically of course…

[@ekauq2000]

@@ItsFinnAgain those music discs that you thought were cool at the time, but didn’t age well

[@Yanni_X]

But don’t pull the door open before the times is stopped. That once caused „random“ spikes in radio-telescopes so that scientists wondered, why they pick up peaks sporadically… someone in the break room just opened the door of the microwave prematurely

[@Beanie1984]

I have worked in a few offices where the wifi goes off when someone turns the microwave on. The 2.4Ghz explains it. Guessing they have a cheap microwave that is not shielded correectly.

[@pwnmeisterage]

A former roomie used to reheat a lot of takeout in the microwave. He'd put a ceramic plate, a takeout meal (in its disposable aluminum container), and a second ceramic plate on top. Metal in the microwave, completely within the profile made by two plates. He was convinced that it's safe. I wasn't as convinced. Does this accelerate wear and damage on the microwave?

[@ilcugginocanadese]

Whoever decided that a wave spanning 1mm-30cm should be called "microwave" should be taken out by the barn, tarred and dipped in feathers.

[@kibunjojo4499]

I can't believe it's the first time I was detailed of how microwaves works.

[@KorkwiN7]

I could watch this dude explain anything

[@zacklerner7604]

They’ve run out of computer topics 😂

[@TheKb117]

Hey Riley, Kyler of UFD somewhat looks like your doppelganger.🤓Latest UFD video was hosted by Kyler and Reese while Brett is resting.

[@RicardoJunqueira]

I'm somewhat satisfied knowing that I could make Riley a bit happy just by clicking the like button.

[@Arrynek01]

Honestly, the weirdest thing about EM radiation is the size of the wavs. Like... It isn't something tiny. The wave is literally from 1mm to 1m wide, in case of microwaves.

[@octia2817]

If the microwave is so good at containing microwaves inside itself, why do my bluetooth headphones go crazy and disconnect whenever it runs?

[@RBzee112]

Maybe because it's pulling 1000 watts from the outlet, which could induce a magnetic field around the power cord and electrical wiring on that circuit.

[@octia2817]

@@RBzee112 That doesn't sound smart. I have multiple power strips that pull more at once, and yet nothing. I think the low amounts of leakage are the answer.

[@octia2817]

@@Testiculitis Ah crap, and I thought I got a fancy one! 500$ if I had bought new. Just how high-end do I have to go to not get that leakage? Does anyone even measure it?