By Doug Batchelor

An Amazing Fact: During World War II, radar engineer Percy Spencer discovered something new while working with a magnetron. He noticed that a chocolate bar in his pocket had melted unexpectedly. On a hunch, Spencer then placed popcorn kernels near the magnetron, and the kernels promptly popped. This experiment confirmed that invisible microwaves produced by the magnetron were causing water molecules in the food to vibrate rapidly, generating heat. Recognizing the potential for cooking food, Spencer and his employer, Raytheon, developed the first microwave oven, initially called the “Radarange.” It stood six feet tall and weighed approximately 750 pounds!