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Science

caraher

(6,357 posts)

5. Microwaves are non-ionizing

Reply to johnd83 (Reply #2)

Fri May 18, 2012, 08:33 AM

May 2012

The photons individually have very little energy - far to little to ionize atoms and molecules.

The main known biologically-relevant effect of microwaves is heating.

Apart from clouds, the atmosphere actually doesn't absorb very much incoming solar radiation at the relevant wavelengths. The chief benefits to collecting the energy in orbit are essentially 24-hour availability and being above clouds (thought transmission of microwaves through clouds may not be very efficient).

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