Summary

Purpose:
To see how microwaving plant seeds affect the speed of their germination.

Conclusion/Results:
Seeds that have been microwaved for 30 seconds sprouted first. Then the control came in second, the ones microwaved for 10 seconds and 20 seconds sprouted at the same rate, and the one microwaved for 40 seconds did not sprout at all.

Discussion:
So why did the seeds that have been microwaved for 30 seconds sprout first? My guess is that by heating up the seeds, you have either weakened the seed coats, allowing water to penetrate the seeds more quickly. But too much radiation breaks the seed coats and so hurts the seed which is why the 40 second seeds did not sprout at all. In conclusion, too much radiation can kill the seeds, while the right amount of radiation can provide a jump start to seed germination.