The invention of the microwave oven was not directly inspired by an incident involving a cooked egg and a warship radar, despite the popular urban legend that circulates in various forms. The true origin of the microwave oven lies in the development of radar technology during World War II.
During World War II, researchers working on radar systems noticed that microwave radiation emitted by radar equipment had the ability to heat food and other objects. Percy Spencer, an engineer at Raytheon Corporation, is credited with the accidental discovery that led to the development of the microwave oven. In 1945, while working on magnetron tubes used in radar systems, he noticed that a chocolate bar in his pocket had melted due to the microwaves from the magnetron.
Intrigued by this observation, Spencer conducted further experiments and found that microwaves could be used to heat food more quickly and efficiently than conventional methods. He then developed the first microwave oven, known as the "Radarange," which was much larger and more powerful than modern microwave ovens.
The first commercial microwave oven was introduced in 1947, and it was primarily used in industrial settings and restaurants due to its large size and high cost. Over the years, microwave oven technology evolved, leading to the development of smaller, more affordable, and safer household microwave ovens that we commonly use today.
So, while the microwave oven's invention was indeed related to radar technology, the story of the cooked egg and a sailor passing by a warship radar is a popular myth and not the actual origin of the microwave oven.