AboutJohn Locke Expertise I will answer all biology-related questions through the undergraduate level. I will explain unclear concepts and suggest approaches to solving problems, but would prefer not to completely solve homework problems for you. If you are completely stumped on homework, tell me what you already know and I will help you as much as possible. Please do not ask me for ideas on school research projects; part of research is determining a suitable area of investigation, and that's not a task that should be completed by someone else.
Experience I have a BS in Bioengineering with a concentration in Chemical Engineering (which included a heavy focus on biology), and have taught biology, biochemistry, and related subjects for some time now.
Education/Credentials BS Bioengineering, Penn State University
MCAT/DAT/OAT Instructor
Being somewhat in a hurry the other day, I popped a burrito in a microwave in which about a dozen ants ( common garden variety found all over the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A. ) were roaming. Two minutes later the burrito was cooked but the ants were still alive. Can You explain to me how the ants can survive 2 minutes worth of microwaving?
Thanks in advance,
James
Answer Thanks for using AllExperts. Microwaves work by exciting dielectric (insulating or nonconductive) substances within food like water molecules, fat, and sugars. These substances absorb the microwave radiation produced by the machine and begin rotating to align themselves with the electric field inside the oven. This rotation produces heat, which in turn is transferred throughout the food by normal conduction. A good summary of how this works can be found here: http://www.howstuffworks.com/microwave.htm
The upside of all this is that not all substances are heated equally well by a microwaves oven. Substances that consist heavily of protein with low water content, in particular, are notoriously difficult to heat effectively in a microwave. I suspect that this played a role with your ants. Ants--like most insects--are covered in a hard protein shell made of chitin and have a relatively low water content, at least compared to other animals. This makes them less affected by microwave radiation to at least some extent. Perhaps this gives them a survival advantage. This is more speculation than certainty, and the most likely answer is below.
Really, the biggest reason that ants are unaffected in a microwave is their small size relative to the location of the microwave radiation inside the chamber. The link below explains this in much greater detail than I can. Suffice to say that in an active microwave chamber, the radiation is not distributed evenly within the chamber, and the ants can simply walk between the areas of high energy concentration without being affected by them. Please see the link below for a full explication.
