Like so many of the most banal tools of modern life—duct tape, tampons, canned soup, the Internet—the microwave oven was born from the industry of war. Its key element: magnetron tubes, tiny, ...

They're nutritious, easy to find and store, and are great in everything from soups and stews to side and gratins. When was the last time you ate a turnip? These robust root vegetables get overlooked ...