Dental Tech Shines in Storm Research
Dentists’ CT scanners are breaking new ground in storm research by producing detailed 3D images of large hailstones’ internal structures. This innovative technique could lead to better predictions of damaging hailstorms and improve our understanding of extreme weather patterns.
Groundbreaking weather research may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of your dental practice. Yet, a computed tomography (CT) scan captured in a dental office has now helped unlock the mysteries of some of the largest hailstones ever studied. Researchers in Spain recently used dental imaging technology to create the first high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) models of hailstones, offering unprecedented insights into how these destructive ice balls form and grow.
The hailstones in question fell during a devastating storm in northeastern Spain in 2022, causing widespread damage, injuries, and even the loss of a young life. Some stones reached a massive 12 centimeters in diameter — double the size of a tennis ball. Days later, researchers collected hailstones that had been preserved in freezers, scanning them with a CT machine borrowed from a local dental practice.
The scans revealed a wealth of details, including off-center ice nuclei and layers of varying density. These findings suggest that the thickest layers formed during the hailstones’ descent, not during their turbulent journey within the storm’s updrafts. By matching these structures with radar data, scientists aim to refine their predictions of which storms are most likely to generate large, damaging hail.
For the dental community, this is a surprising reminder of the versatility of their tools. Beyond transforming patient care, dental technology is now helping solve some of nature’s icy puzzles. Click here to read more.
