The Microwave Is Finally Getting an Update

The design of microwave ovens hasn’t changed substantially since they gained widespread home use in the 1970s. They are still bulky, rectangular boxes with a few controls next to the door. The generator inside them, the magnetron, leads to hotspots, so part of your food might be stone-cold and another part red-hot, even if you have a working turntable.

But, as New Scientist reports, microwave ovens may finally be hauled into the 21st century, thanks to smaller, high-efficiency sources of microwave energy called laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductors (LDMOS).

A 1971 microwave. Image Credit: Pamperchu via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0

For instance, the Hertford, UK-based Wayv Technologies is creating a foot-tall, rechargeable microwave that’s shaped like a thermos and designed for camping and outdoor traveling. It can fit up to 16 ounces of food or drink, and will sell for $199 starting next year.

While the Wayv microwave needs to be recharged after about 30 minutes of use, the technology indicates that microwaves could be getting a lot less bulky in the future. And in some cases, being able to pop a microwave in your backpack may outweigh the inconvenience of having to recharge it.

[h/t New Scientist]