CT scan of a Twinkie

[Turbinator]

I was curious about how the creme filling got into a Twinkie, and whether or not it was evenly distributed. So I did what anyone else would do: I put them through a CT (computed axial tomography) scanner at the local hospital to take a peek inside.

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here's a close-up. the mysterious creme filling seems to come from the bottom of the twinkie. The black spots you see are air pockets inside the twinkies. The brighter color of the creme indicates it's denser than the gold spongecake which makes up the rest of the Twinkie

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That was my first thought too. So I scanned them next from the side. This slice clearly shows the creme is distributed in 3 globules, about evenly sized and spaced. Just about right for each bite

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But viewing CT images slice by slice is old school. Using the power of modern computing, the scanner can reconstruct a complete image from all the slices put together. This is called a Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP) of the Twinkies. Because they're so light and fluffy compared to bones and muscle, this isn't the best way to view them but still interesting to see. And you can clearly see how the creme is distributed inside

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I think the best reconstructed image came from what is called a VIP view. After adjusting image settings to account for the Twinkie's fluffiness, Here is what we have. We can now clearly see each invididual globule of creme inside each Twinkie. As well as seeing the ripples on the serface of each Twinkie. So it does indeed appear that the creme filling is inserted from the bottem, and is concentrated in 3 globules of about the same size, and not distributed completed through each Twinkie. So about 1 globule per average bite.

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[FSXHD]

Pure genius!

 

[TSPenguin]

Only on Orbiter Forum...

 

[Andy44]

When I was little I used to eat Twinkies from end to end in little bites, effectively building an image in my mind very similar to what you've done. Thanks for confirming I was right!

And, BTW, good use of that very expensive hospital equipment...:lol:

---------- Post added at 12:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:38 AM ----------

ETA: I still bite M&Ms in half just to see the cross-section...

 

[Turbinator]

Bonus material: here's a CT slice image of my lunch box. On the left is an orange and on the right is a pear. You can clearly see the seed inside the pear's core and each wedge of the orange.

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[Bloodworth]

this has got to be the strangest thread I've ever seen You know of course, that you are now obliged to scan a hostess snowball

 

[Turbinator]

Finally, here is the same lunch box, this time in 3D, in what we call a Volume Reconstruction. This method can show the surface texture of each item, normally used for bones or blood vessels. At the bottom is a pear, then a banana, towards the back is an orange. And in front is a turkey sandwich wrapped in foil. And that little round thing center-bottom? That's a lifesaver.

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[Juanelm]

You would.

 

[Artlav]

Oh the random people and their cool toys.

 

[Salun]

So I'M guessing the next logical thing is the contents of your wallet of better yet your wife's purse?

 

[Turbinator]

I had it down for scheduled maintenance. It's normal to do a quickie scan or 2 to check performance and image quality before it goes back for clinical use. This way you're absolutely sure it's working right before using on actual patients. Normally they just scan air or the table itself. But this was more fun

Anyone want a slightly used radioactive Twinkie?

 

[River Crab]

Seeing that it came from 4chan, I'd imagine this has been done but oh well.

 

[Turbinator]

Yes, I posted it on the Food & Cooking board, as a matter of fact I better re-upload the pictures to a permanent host before the thread expires over there.

 

[statickid]

Wwwwow! I feel like a part of me is complete that was previously missing!

:idea: truly enlightened.

Yes, like Andy44, I too, had analyzed twinkies in great detail, mainly by biting, but also by slicing them a few time, but the technology shows it so much more clearly and unaltered!

 

[N_Molson]

That's a major scientifical breakthrough ! :rofl:

 

[Chipstone306]

Twinkie Tumour

The twinkie looks kinda tumerous at first glance... you should have biopsied the twinkie first then, irradiated it before eating. You cant chance getting a twinkie tumour.

:rofl:

 

[RisingFury]

We've got an Ig Nobel Prize contestant! :lol:

 

[Izack]

Well, at least you weren't using up valuable CTD time.
Otherwise, brilliant! :hailmedical)

 

[T.Neo]

Pure win. :thumbup:

 

[Manichean]

Reminds me of this gallery here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roentgenator/sets/72157601198404570/