Sounds like a hoax.

earlier, Sheila Killian, wrote:
>Heating Water In A Microwave, Caution!
>Microwaving Water!
>: >
>: >     A 26-year old man decided to have a cup of coffee. He took a cup of
>: > water and put it in the microwave to heat it up (something that he had
>: > done numerous times before). I am not sure how long he set the timer
>for,
>: > but he wanted to bring the water to a boil. When the timer shut the oven
>: > off, he removed the cup from the oven. As he looked into the cup, he
>noted
>: > that the w ater was not boiling, but suddenly the water in the cup "blew
>: > up" into his face. The cup remained intact until he threw it out of his
>: > hand, but all the water had flown out into his face due to the build up
>of
>: > energy. His whole face is blistered and he has 1st and 2nd degree burns
>to
>: > his face which may leave scarring.
>: >
>: >
>: >     He also may have lost partial sight in his left eye. While at the
>: > hospital, the doctor who was attending to him stated that this is a
>fairly
>: > common occurrence and water (alone) should never be heated in a
>microwave
>: > oven. If water is heated in this manner, something should be pl aced in
>: > the cup to diffuse the energy such as a wooden stir stick, tea bag,
>etc.,
>: > (nothing metal).
>: >
>: >     It is however a much safer choice to boil the water in a tea kettle.
>: >
>: >     General Electric's Response:
>: >
>: >     Thanks for contacting us, I will be happy to assist you. The e-mail
>: > that you received is correct. Micro waved water and other liquids do not
>: > always bubble when they reach the boiling point. They can actually get
>: > superheated and not bu bble at all. The superheated liquid will bubble
>up
>: > out of the cup when it is moved or when something like a spoon or tea
>bag
>: > is put into it.
>: >
>: >
>: >     To prevent this from happening and causing injury, do not heat any
>: > liquid for more than two minutes per cup. After heating, let the cup
>stand
>: > in the microwave for thirty seconds before moving it or adding anything
>: > into it.
>: >
>: >     Here is what our local science teacher had to say on the matter:
>: > "Thanks for the microwave warning. I have seen this happen before. It is
>: > caused by a phenomenon known as super heating. It can occur anytime
>water
>: > is heated and will particularly occur if the vessel that the water is
>: > heated in is new, or when heating a small amount of water (less than
>half
>: > of a cup).
>: >
>: >     What happens is that the water heats faster than the vapor bubbles
>can
>: > form. If the cup is very new then it is unlikely to have a small surface
>: > scratches inside it that provide a place for the bubbles to form. As the
>: > bubbles cannot form and release some of the heat has built up, the
>liquid
>: > does not boil, and the liquid continues to heat up well past its boiling
>: > point.
>: >
>: >     What then usually happens is that the liquid is bumped or jarred,
>: > which is just enough of a shock to cause the bubbles to rapidly form and
>: > expel the hot liquid. The rapid formation of bubbles is also why a
>: > carbonated beverage spews when opened after having been shaken."
>: >
>: >     If you pass this on you could very well save someone from a lot of
>: > pain and suffering
>: >
>: >
>: >
>: >
>: >
>: >
>: >
>: >
>: >
>:
>:
>:
>: --
>: No virus found in this incoming message.
>: Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>: Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/432 - Release Date: 8/29/2006
>:
>:
>
>
>
>--
>No virus found in this outgoing message.
>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/432 - Release Date: 8/29/2006

John