August 16, 2012 | Ling

Don’t tell my mum, but scientists have made the first maser – microwave ‘laser’ – that works at room temperature. This would multiply her suspicions about our harmless microwave oven.

Previous masers only worked at freezing temperatures with strong magnets. This new one just uses a pretty pink crystal that the scientists grew in their lab.

Ironically, microwaves might have health benefits. According to the scientists, their maser produces a very ‘clean’ beam that can be used to make devices such as body scanners more sensitive. And no, you can’t reheat your dinner with it.