Probably a stupid question, but will we ever have something like a microwave to make things cold? Is there a reason this can't exist?

Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com to Asklemmy@lemmy.ml – 486 points –
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Removing heat energy is what your freezer does, by transferring it outside of the freezer box.

You can’t just remove heat by adding electromagnetic energy. Absorbing energy from the electromagnetic radiation makes heat.

Edit: whelp, TIL

You can’t just remove heat by adding electromagnetic energy.

Except that you can.

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The magnetocaloric effect can do this. Instead of the target absorbing energy, the magnet does. The magnet heats up and the target cools.

If you're very careful you can remove heat with electromagnetic energy.

Think of heat like someone on a rope swing, and electromagnetic energy as a push.

If you time, and angle your pushes very carefully you can slow the person on the swing. But it's much easier to speed them up. Same with electromagnetic energy.

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