People are just finding out what CT scan machine does without its outer casing and it’s leaving them terrified

Ever wondered what really happens during a CT scan? Turns out, there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes than most people realize — and when you see the machine without its outer cover, it’s kind of scary.

A CT scan, short for computerized tomography, uses X-rays to create detailed pictures of the inside of your body. Unlike regular X-rays, CT scans can show not just bones but also soft tissues like organs and muscles. That makes them really useful for doctors trying to figure out what’s going on with someone’s health.

Every year, around 93 million CT scans are done in the U.S. alone. While they help a lot with diagnosis, some experts are worried about how much radiation these scans use. Depending on the clinic, the amount of radiation can be different, but some researchers say it’s often higher than it needs to be. One professor even said a single CT scan can expose someone to as much radiation as 200 chest X-rays.

But lately, people aren’t just talking about the risks and benefits  they’re reacting to how the CT scanner actually looks while it’s working. Normally, you don’t see the inside of the machine because it’s covered. But a video showing it uncovered has gone viral, and people are kind of freaked out.

When you’re getting a scan, you might hear a soft spinning sound. That’s the scanner rotating around you, collecting data. What most people don’t know is just how fast it moves. Some modern CT scanners can spin five times every second  that’s one full circle every 0.2 seconds.

After seeing the machine exposed, people had a lot to say. One person joked, “Put its clothes back on, I don’t like it.” Another said, “Wouldn’t it be cheaper to just spin the patient?” Someone even joked it looked like it could open a portal to another world.

Others pointed out that the cover probably exists to keep people from getting too scared — and honestly, that makes sense. One comment read, “Now I understand   people aren’t scared of the scan, they’re scared it’s going to launch them into space.” Another added, “I was never scared of CT machines before… but now I kind of am.”