When it comes to microwave ovens, say researchers in South Africa, five sides
are better than four. Because the walls of standard microwave ovens are
parallel, microwaves bouncing off them interfere with one another, producing a
standing wave pattern. 鈥淵ou end up with very distinct hot and cold regions,鈥
says Thys Rossouw of the research group CSIR, based in Pretoria. 鈥淭o cook food
evenly, you need to put it on a turntable,鈥 he adds. But Rossouw has found a way
to eliminate the hot and cold spots. 鈥淲ith five walls, the waves are reflected
off sideways, so you don鈥檛 get the same wave patterns set up.鈥
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