This really can happen if you don't let water or anything you are 
boiling in the microwave rest for a few seconds. I've had this happen 
with gravy. It's not a hoax.

Just my thoughts.

Pat Ferguson



At 01:18 PM 8/30/2006, you wrote:
>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