Mummies Bare All

The plump neck on mummy Meresamun (right) made scientists think she had a goiter. Then they examined her with a high resolution computed tomogrraphy (CT) scan and learned the truth : Her mummifiers had inserted a bit of stuffing to enlarge the the ban priestess' neck.

Opening a sealed sarcophagus can destroy the mummy inside. but medical technologies allow experts to peer in without risk. X rays have long been used for this purpose, though results aren't always reliable. CT scans, now so powerful they can reveal 3 D slices half a millimeter thick, are clearing up years of uncertainty. Scientists have been able to pinpoint mummies' ages at death and see how statues result in higher quantity mummification. Medical imaging has tuned up evidence of an ancient gallstone (once thought to be a scarab), cancer, even teeth grinding.

Nothing was as surprising as the outcome of the high teach analysis of a 2,700 year old mummy from the Brooklyn Museum. "You told me this one was a woman!" the radiologist University Hospital said. Just like that, the mummy known for 80-plus years are the Lady Hor became a sir -Hannah Bloch

Inside the coffin
thirty billion CT measurements are uncovering details about the priestess Meresamun (right), who died around age in 800 B.C

No Cavities
A CT scan showed cavity free teeth.Stones or faience pieces cover her eyes.

Childbearing Hips ?
Scan results are inconclusive as to whether she had children.

Good legs
Strong bones are evidences of her healthy diet and active lifestyle.

Foot Trouble
A 2,800 year old bunion showed up her right big toe.