A student investigated the effect of radiation on the germination of bean seeds. He thought that exposure to radiation would limit the seeds ability to germinate (grow) much like ultraviolet light causing skin cancer. Three hundred seeds were soaked in distilled water for one hour. They were then divided into three groups. One group was placed in a microwave oven on high for three seconds. Another group was microwaved on high for six seconds. The last group was not microwaved. The seeds were then planted in three separate flats and given the same amount of water. The flats were placed on the same windowsill with a constant temperature of approximately 27 degrees Celsius. Each day for two weeks the number of seeds that germinated each group was recorded.