Short Wave The mystery of the mummified Twinkie
Oct 14, 2021
Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR's science correspondent, dives into the quirky tale of an eight-year-old Twinkie unearthed by Colin Purrington during the pandemic. Unbelievably, this snack’s original 45-day shelf life turned into a scientific mystery. Greenfieldboyce explores how two scientists investigated its mummified state and the fungi that contribute to its strange preservation. The discussion wraps around existential reflections, using the immortal Twinkie as a humorous yet poignant symbol of decay and resilience.
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The Eight-Year-Old Twinkie
- Colin Purrington, craving sugar, ate an eight-year-old Twinkie from a box he'd saved.
- He had bought the box during the 2012 Hostess bankruptcy scare.
Mummified Twinkies
- The Twinkie looked normal but tasted like "old sock."
- Other Twinkies in the box were shrunken, gray, and resembled mummified morel mushrooms.
Fungi's Ability to Decompose
- Scientists Brian Lovett and Matt Kasson, intrigued by the mummified Twinkie, suspected a fungus.
- Fungi can grow on various substances, even jet fuel, making them interesting research subjects.