From: SFPhysics@aol.com
Date: Wed Oct 17 2001 - 17:46:51 PDT
From: SFPhysics@aol.com Message-ID: <f9.112f36ce.28ff807b@aol.com> Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001 20:46:51 EDT Subject: microwaving microbes.......
Microwaving microbes?
Not being a biologist I can only answer two of the questions posed with any
certainty and these are in the Physics area.
Microwaves are larger than the microbes so the microbes can sit in the
microwave electromagnetic field without any destruction. One of my students
favorite questions was why ants can survive in a microwave (yes, they tried
it). The microwave oven uses energy wavelengths of over a cm which just go
by the ant, through the ant, or around the ant without the ant picking up any
of the electromagnetic energy.
If the microbes were in a water solution that was heated by the microwaves to
a destructive temperature then that would be another story but the current
wave of germ warfare terrorism being practiced is in sending out the dry
spores of a bacterium that is not damaged by the microwaves.
Yes, other forms of energy using shorter wavelengths would do the job. Gamma
radiation (e.g. from a Cobalt 60 source) and short X-radiation would kill the
spores, microbes, etc., because these are ionizing radiations and are small
enough to even destroy the DNA in the microbes while ionizing the biochemical
reactions out of existence. However, the same paranoia over radiation of
food would make people wary of receiving mail stamped, "Made Safe by
Radiation," "Nuked for Safety," or "Glow in the Dark Sterile." ;-)
Statistically you have a better chance of winning the Lotto than getting
anthrax....
Best to the list,
Al Sefl
Who can see a herd of cows from his front window but has never seen
anthrax.......
And the cows would be the first to get it if it were loose.......
Don't worry - - be happy!
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