What do TSA bag scanners actually see?

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. So although we theoretically know the rules, plenty of passengers have a story of a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer spotting something mortifying in their carry-on. The snafus range from embarrassing--a buzzing vibrator that sounds like a potential bomb threat--to stressful--cannabis products purchased legally, then accidentally carried into a state or country where they carry criminal charges. Some of these prohibited items seem pretty obvious, but others beg the question, How the heck did they know that was in there? If you've ever caught a glimpse of the squiggly, multicolored visual display on the X-ray scanner as you trudge to the body scanner, you may have found yourself wondering exactly how much information the Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) can decipher from it.