It took scientists 17 years to figure out that a microwave oven was causing interference with a radio telescope

For close to 17 years, astronomers at Parkes Observatory in Australia searched in vain to track down the source of interference with their observations. Until early this year, when they discovered that it was coming from the microwave oven in the observatory's kitchen. The observatory is home to the country's best-known radio telescope, which is used to measure radio signals for signs of extraterrestrial life.  The interference, which began in 1988, was soon determined to be nearby, The Guardia...