A paleontologist wants to examine the embryo fossilized inside a prehistoric egg. A geologist needs to determine the complex relationships among minerals at the center of a meteorite. Traditionally these scientists would have no choice but to saw the egg in half or break the rock, damaging their specimens irreversibly. Unfortunately, these dramatic alterations could also lead to erroneous scientific conclusions.

The new High Resolution X-ray CT Scanner at The University of Texas at Austin has made it possible to observe the interior of opaque, solid objects through computer-animated, three-dimensional images, without altering the objects in any way.

The CT (Computed Tomography) Scanner is not only preserving the object under investigation, it's raising the process of scientific inquiry to a higher level.

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