Podcast Summary
Twinkies don't last forever despite popular belief: Twinkies contain preservatives that prevent bacterial growth but do not last forever and lose quality over time, with an official shelf life of 45 days
Contrary to popular belief, Twinkies do not last forever. Despite the urban legend, the official shelf life of Twinkies is only 45 days. However, during a pandemic-induced dessert emergency in 2012, a man named Colin Purrington in Pennsylvania decided to test the longevity of a 8-year-old box of Twinkies he had stored in his basement, as he believed Hostess was going out of business. His experiment, which was inspired by the belief that Twinkies never expire, gained attention due to the widespread belief that Twinkies have an indefinite shelf life. This belief stems from the fact that Twinkies contain preservatives, but they do not last forever. The scientists who study these phenomena explained that the preservatives in Twinkies prevent bacterial growth but do not prevent staling or the deterioration of the texture and taste. So, while Twinkies may not spoil in the same way as other perishable foods, they do eventually expire and lose their quality over time.
The Mummified Twinkie: A Scientific Mystery: A Twinkie's unexpected transformation into a mummified state sparked scientific curiosity, demonstrating that even the most common objects can hold intriguing secrets.
Even common food items like Twinkies can undergo unexpected transformations, leading to unusual appearances and even scientific intrigue. The discussion revolves around a Twinkie that was found to be mummified, with a shriveled, gray, and wrinkly appearance. Despite its frightening appearance, scientists were intrigued and aimed to discover the cause and potentially reverse the process. This event shows us that the world around us is full of mysteries, even in the most mundane of objects. It's a reminder that taking a closer look and asking questions can lead to fascinating discoveries.
Apple Card rewards vary based on purchase method vs Fungi preserving a Twinkie: Apple Card rewards differ for Apple purchases, Apple Pay, and physical/virtual card use. Fungi can grow in extreme environments and may have preserved a Twinkie by using up more oxygen than it produced, creating a vacuum.
Apple Card offers varying rewards based on the method of purchase: 3% for products at Apple, 2% for Apple Pay purchases, and 1% for purchases made with the physical or virtual card. Meanwhile, in an unexpected scientific discovery, researchers at West Virginia University were intrigued by a Twitter post showing a mummified Twinkie and decided to investigate. They suspected that fungi were responsible for the Twinkie's preservation and sent the "Twinkie Mummy" to their lab for confirmation. The scientists hypothesized that the fungus might have entered the package before it was sealed and used up more oxygen than it produced, creating a vacuum. This discovery highlights the versatility of fungi, which can grow in various extreme environments, including seemingly inedible foods like Twinkies.
Twinkie's Surprising Preservation and Fungal Growth: Twinkies can survive with minimal decomposition and unexpectedly harbor fungal growth when exposed to specific conditions, challenging our understanding of food preservation.
A Twinkie, when exposed to certain environmental conditions, can survive for an extended period with minimal decomposition and unexpectedly harbor fungal growth on its exterior. The scientists discovered this after examining a mummified Twinkie that had been stored for years, which showed signs of fungal spore formation. They also found that the interior of the Twinkie still contained its cream filling. The fungus seemed more interested in the cake part of the Twinkie, suggesting its preference for carbohydrates. To determine the type of fungus, the researchers sampled multiple Twinkies, including the mummified one and a non-mummified one with a blemish. They used a bone biopsy tool to extract samples from the Twinkies for analysis. The findings show that Twinkies, when exposed to specific conditions, can exhibit unusual preservation and fungal growth, which challenges our understanding of food decomposition.
Twinkies Contain Living Fungi: A New Discovery: Despite their appearance, Twinkies may harbor living organisms, specifically fungi, as shown by DNA sequencing. This discovery opens up new research possibilities.
The Twinkies, despite appearing mummified and inedible, contained living fungi. Scientists were able to identify these fungi through DNA sequencing, with the marred Twinkie being a near match to Cladosporium xylophyllum and the mummified Twinkie showing similarities to Cladosporium tenuissimum. The findings suggest that even when food appears inedible or dead, it may still contain living organisms. This research not only sheds light on the potential longevity of Twinkies but also opens up new avenues for scientific exploration, such as observing the growth of these fungi in a controlled environment or studying their potential applications. The scientists plan to continue their research, exploring possibilities like inoculating healthy Twinkies with the identified fungi or conducting transplants using a bone marrow biopsy tool. The mystery of the Twinkie may not be entirely solved, but it has certainly sparked intrigue and curiosity in the scientific community.
The Inevitability of Decay and the Passing of Time: Iconic treats, including Twinkies, aren't immune to decay despite popular belief. Respect expiration dates and cherish advice from loved ones.
Nothing lasts forever, not even iconic treats like Twinkies. The story of the "mommy Twinkie" serves as a reminder of the inevitability of decay and the passing of time. Another moral could be the importance of respecting expiration dates and heeding advice from loved ones. Despite the popular belief that Twinkies are immune to decay, this experiment shows that even they are subject to the natural world. This discussion touches on the human condition and our grappling with mortality, making for an unexpected yet thought-provoking exploration. The episode was produced by Brent Bachman and Thomas Lu, and I'm Emily Kuang. Remember, every experience, no matter how seemingly insignificant, can offer valuable lessons.
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