Blood vessel configurations of human hearts float in cases next to a dainty lamb, thousands of red fibers molded to create its delicate body. Horizontal slices of the male and female brain light up on display. Complete and whole human bodies – sans skin – add a dramatic element to the exhibit, positioned in various stages of action from a ballet dancer to skateboarder, a woman doing yoga and a soccer player kicking an actual ball.
Don’t worry. This isn’t a recreation of Ted Bundy’s house. It’s a chance to get to know your own body, but there are only five days left to do it, May 26-30.
Three years after Body Worlds attracted crowds from near and far, a new manifestation took place at the Arizona Science Center in January and is coming up on its last weekend – Gunther von Hagens’ Body Worlds & The Brain. And despite some ethical objections to the displays, this exhibit is set on bringing the educational benefits to visitors of all ages.
A Fascinating Addition
Those who have seen the regular Body Worlds exhibits (between all the displays, about 32 million people have experienced them) usually find it intriguing and eye-opening in regards to the way the human body works. But with this exhibit, not only will visitors get to check out around 200 full bodies, body parts, transparent slices, and illuminated murals and posters, but they can expect to discover a combination of philosophy, neuroscience and anatomy about the human brain. The general public gets to see the most complex organ in the body, presented in an accessible yet beautiful way.
“The brain is an incredible marvel of engineering. I wanted people to recognize what is known about this amazing gem inside our heads, and be awed by its possibilities and capacities,” said Dr. von Hagens, according to an Arizona Science Center press release.
How Did They Do That?
In 1977 Dr. Gunther von Hagens invented the Plastination technique for medical education purposes. This method halts decomposition by extracting all bodily fluids and soluble fat from a body, then replacing them with vacuum-forced reactive resins and elastomers. At this point, the specimens are cured with light, heat or gases, allowing them to be placed in certain positions, creating the set for Body World. It also allows the bones, ligaments, organs, muscles, circulatory and nervous systems and veins to be shown in their natural state. In short, it is close to a high-tech human taxidermy.
The bodies are derived from donors, who requested that upon death their bodies be used for educational purposes in Body World exhibits.
How to See It
During the closing weeks, von Hagens’ exhibit has attracted more than 10,000 ticket-holders. Body Worlds & The Brain will be open Friday through Monday with special extended hours, 10 AM-10 PM. Admission to the Arizona Science Center is $25 for adults, 20 for children 3-18, $23 for college students with I.D., and seniors 62 and up. Get tickets at the Arizona Science Center website.
Lauren Wise - Lauren Wise has a BA in Journalism with an emphasis on Media Analysis and Criticism from the Walter Cronkite School of ...
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