Microwaving a Penny Won't Shrink it
The Claim
If you microwave a penny for one minute it will shrink into a “mini penny.”
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The claim went viral in 2021.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar concluded that you cannot shrink a penny by microwaving it for any amount of time. It will cause the penny to spark, but will not shrink it.
Putting metal in the microwave could damage it. In extreme cases, microwaving metal objects could even start a fire. According to the United States Mint, pennies are made from zinc and copper. Seeing as both zinc and copper are metals, you should avoid heating anything made from these elements in your microwave.
The mini penny that’s shown in the viral post is widely available for sale online. They are often used for magic tricks or given as novelty gifts. They’re certainly not the result of microwaving coins.
