What Are Microwaves?

Microwaves are electromagnetic waves with wavelengths that span a third of a millimeter up to about a foot. This range overlaps with the shortest radio waves, so microwaves can be thought of as a subset of radio radiation. Microwave frequencies, or the number of cycles a wave completes in a second, vary from one to 100 billion gigahertz (that’s a billion million).

The most familiar consumer use of microwaves is cooking food in your home kitchen. When you turn on your oven, it emits microwaves that make water molecules in food vibrate and heat it up. Microwaves can also be used to dry and cure things like plywood, linoleum, and rubber.

Some people worry that microwaves might be harmful, but research hasn’t found any evidence that they are. It’s important to remember that microwave radiation is non-ionizing, meaning it doesn’t break atoms or remove electrons from them. This means that it can’t cause any damage to your body.

Nevertheless, microwaves are not without their risks. You should avoid putting metal objects in your microwave, and you should also be careful not to lean against or stand directly up against the oven while it’s on. You should also avoid breathing microwaves directly into your lungs. The Health Physics Society (which is dedicated to studying and making recommendations on ionizing and non-ionizing radiation) has some helpful tips for microwave safety.