A Sweet Reaction: Halloween Candy Up Close
Researchers at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research have zoomed in on popular Halloween candies ‒ literally. Using fluorescence microscopy, staff scientist Dr. Naveen Jayaprakash and research assistant Nicole Carpentiere have captured striking images of various trick-or-treat basket staples, including Jelly Bellies, hard candies, Air Heads and more, using fluorescence microscopy.
Normally, they use this technique to study the intricate structures of the vagus nerve. This nerve plays a key part in the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for “rest and digest” responses and communication between the brain and major organs. For Halloween, the pair shifted focus to candy, an appropriate nod to the vagus nerve’s role in digestion.
To create the haunting visuals, Jayaprakash and Carpentiere used a mix of alcohol, water and iodine, which they referred to as “zombie solution”.
“The ‘zombie solution’ is simply alcohol and water reacting with the crushed candy syrup (red candy in the picture). What you're seeing is the alcohol evaporating and the start of the crystallization process. Candy, like chocolate, contains starch. Starch reacts with iodine to form a dark blackish-blue color,” said Jayaprkash.
He explains that the entire process lasts only a few seconds; catch it too early or too late, and you’ll miss the “sweet spot”. Using a fluorescent microscope at 4x magnification, the team timed each shot precisely to capture the reaction, allowing them to see the candy dissolving, reforming and fluorescing.
Explore the gallery of high-resolution images below, and test your skills… can you identify which candy is which?
Image 1: A Spooky Spectrum
Credit: Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research
Image 2: Scarlet Shards
Credit: Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research
Image 3: Ghoulish Green Glow
Credit: Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research
Dr. Naveen Jayaprakash and research assistant Nicole Carpentiere in the lab. Credit: Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research
Answers
Image 1: Air Head Sour Extreme
Image 2: Hard Candy
Image 3: Jelly Belly
