Microwave ovens were invented in 1946 by Dr. Percy Spencer. They work by emitting microwave radiation at a frequency of 2.45GHz to heat up food through dielectric heating. Microwave ovens are commonly used to quickly heat or reheat cooked foods and are made up of basic components including a magnetron that generates microwaves and a cavity to distribute the waves. However, microwaves may decrease the nutritive value of foods and some studies have linked their use to cancer risks.