MadSci Network: General Biology
Query:

Re: How come roaches don't get zapped in the microwave oven?

Date: Thu Aug 19 23:05:38 2004
Posted By: Kevin Reed, Engineer
Area of science: General Biology
ID: 1090037094.Gb
Message:

Suzann,

Roaches are, in fact, very difficult to kill with any sort of radiation. I 
found a brief discussion of the effects of radiation presented by my 
estimable Mad Scientist colleague Andrew Karam at 
 http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/feb99/919916346.Gb.r.html

Microwave radiation's effect on roaches is less examined than "hard" 
radiation like gamma or alpha rays, and there isn't much information 
available. However, I did find some informal discussion of roaches and 
microwaves in the archives of The Straight Dope at 
 http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_025.html


and the alumnus research pages at CalTech at 
 http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~maronj/text/roach.html.

I hope that you find these informative and entertaining!



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