Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 (Tek) 9/28/84 based on 9/17/84; site tektronix.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!tektronix!billb From: billb@tektronix.UUCP (Bill Baker) Newsgroups: net.cooks Subject: Yet more on ZAP! Message-ID: <4696@tektronix.UUCP> Date: Mon, 7-Jan-85 01:35:54 EST Article-I.D.: tektroni.4696 Posted: Mon Jan 7 01:35:54 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 9-Jan-85 05:43:37 EST Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR Lines: 23 This discussion about terms for "microwaving" is most interesting. However as a professional spectroscopist and amateur etymologist, let me give the *correct* answer: NUKE IT! While the term 'irradiate it' is technically correct, it is rather clinical and uninteresting. The term NUKE has some emotional oomph, but it is, in a scientific sense, correct and heuristic. The microwaves are absorbed by the food resulting in the excitation of the vibrational degrees of freedom in the large molecules. The vibrations aree, of course, nuclear motion and when they are irradiated with microwave radiation,the nuclei are collectively excited. So much so, in fact, that the molecules (proteins, wet carbohydrates, & such) change their general conformation. This is the very process of cooking. In the case of proteins, they become 'denatured'which is another way of saying that they have changed from their natural molecular conformation. So nuke them suckers! This is rather afar from cooking. I'll have to share my handed-down Kentucky recipes with the net real soon. -Jere M. Marrs Tektronix, Inc. 50-324 P.O. Box 500 Beaverton, OR 97077 I'm not Bill Baker.