Microorganisms adapt quite flexibly to the conditions created for them by humans. They have learned to break down plastic and have even spread to the International Space Station. A recent study revealed that they have mastered another extreme environment: microwave ovens. The findings of the Spanish microbiologists’ work are published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology.
During the experiment, scientists took microbe samples from 30 microwave ovens: 10 located in household kitchens, 10 in common areas in cafes and offices, and 10 in various biological laboratories. Researchers wanted to understand how the microbiome develops in microwaves depending on the device’s location and user eating habits.
In total, scientists discovered 747 distinct genera belonging to 25 bacterial phyla. The most prevalent phyla were Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria. As anticipated, the microbiomes in different locations varied significantly. The lowest biodiversity was observed in microwaves located in private homes or apartments, and the highest in biolaboratories. Some bacteria were found only in homes, others only in laboratories.
In typical residences, the microwave microbiome largely contained bacteria present on various kitchen surfaces within the dwelling. However, scientists noted that microbes in microwaves begin to resemble those found on solar panels. The work’s authors surmised that they are adapting to constant thermal exposure and electromagnetic radiation in a similar way. And bacteria “hardened” on solar panels became resistant to negative factors.
This implies that bacteria entering microwaves from the kitchen, if they survive, become more resilient. This research did not detect microbes hazardous to health, but if harmless bacteria exhibit this characteristic, pathogenic ones might too.
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