Bell Museum Gets CT Scanner for Carp Research

The University of Minnesota and Bell Museum acquired a Nikon CT scanner that images specimens without dissection, supporting invasive carp studies.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Botany

Large gray CT scanner gantry beside a preserved fish specimen on a rotating stage in a bright, plain research laboratory. — The University of Minnesota and Bell Museum acquired a Nikon CT scanner that images fish specimens without dissection to support invasive carp research in Saint Paul. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The University of Minnesota and the Bell Museum have acquired a Nikon CT scanner for research. The scanner takes a series of X-rays as a specimen rotates vertically, and a computer converts that data into a 3D image while keeping the specimen intact.

Why it matters

Researchers aim to find ways to keep invasive species out of Minnesota waterways, and the scanner supports work on how invasive carp skulls have evolved over time. The equipment gives St. Paul researchers a non-destructive way to study specimens.

Researchers believe the scanner will let them scan up to 3 million specimens, though the source does not specify results or applications beyond the current invasive carp studies.

The players

Bell Museum

The Bell Museum is the natural history museum of the University of Minnesota, located in St. Paul.

University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota is a public research university whose researchers are using the new CT scanner.

The details

The scanner, acquired by the University of Minnesota and the Bell Museum, takes X-rays as a specimen rotates vertically and keeps it intact rather than requiring dissection. Researchers are also exploring whether certain sound frequencies can deter invasive carp.

Article on the CT scanner's use for invasive carp research was published November 5, 2026.

The Big Picture

The scanner extends the Bell Museum's specimen research program by allowing non-destructive imaging of large collections. It supports efforts to understand invasive species such as carp, which threaten Minnesota waterways.

The scanner's ability to image specimens without dissection could make specimen-based research faster for scientists in St. Paul. Its use in invasive species work may eventually inform how Minnesota waterways are protected.

The takeaway

Non-destructive imaging lets researchers study rare specimens repeatedly without losing them. That capability can speed up work on threats like invasive carp in Minnesota waterways.