Twinkies can't be alive...Or can they?

Okay, okay, so maybe twinkies have little to do with biology, BUT they are awesome little treats on which we can perform a variety of scientific experiments. As two post-grads from Rice University can attest. Their results can be found at the aptly named website, "The T.W.I.N.K.I.E.S. Project."

The researches performed a variety of experiments in order to test the conductivity, flammability, solubility, gravitational response, radiation output, maximum density and intelligence/sentience of Twinkies brand snack cakes. This is science! Don't try to refute the indisputable facts of empirical observation and the rational mind!

And seek to answer the question once and for all -- animal, plant or mineral?