|
Richmond, Va. -- There are lots of things about the body that make you go, "Hmm,that's interesting." For instance, babies are born with more than 300 bones, but as theygrow, many of the smaller bones fuse so that by adulthood, humanshave 206 bones. Or the real human brain — not the rubbery classroom model— is gelatinlike and spongy-soft enough for you to poke afinger through. The cranium, meninges and cerebrospinal fluidprovide triple-layer protection to the delicate organ, the body'scontrol center. Those are a couple of neat tidbits about human anatomy you canlearn at the "Body Worlds & the Brain" exhibit at the ScienceMuseum of Virginia. The exhibit starts Friday, and it gets under the skin, literally,featuring a dozen preserved, skinless human bodies and dozens ofother specimens, such as individual organs and slices of organs. "This is one of the big exhibits for science museums," said RichardC. Conti, chief wonder officer at the Science Museum of Virginia."When this first hit the world about 10 years ago, … it setattendance records at all the major (museums)." It's only beenrecently, he said, that there has been a version of the exhibitavailable to markets the size of the Richmond metro area. "We were pretty excited to work out an arrangement to bring ithere," Conti said. The exhibit is the brainchild of German anatomist Gunther vonHagens, who in 1977 created the plastination process used topreserve the bodies. On the "Body Worlds" website, von Hagensdescribes initially embedding an organ in liquid Plexiglas, anacrylic resin, and using a vacuum to extract the air bubbles thatformed when a hardening agent was stirred in. That didn't work outas he expected, but he kept trying until he found something thatdid. The first "Body Worlds" exhibit was in Japan in 1995. Since then,there have been copycat exhibits and controversy. The thing that throws some people off about the exhibit is the samething that attracts others. The bodies are all from real people whodonated their bodies to the project. So what you see is the realthing. Some religious groups have objected to the treatment anddisplay of human bodies. In addition, there have been concernsabout how some bodies were obtained and whether donors understoodthat their bodies would be displayed in such a public way. "We feltgood about their track record and the provenance of the specimens,"Conti said of the "Body Worlds" exhibit. The 12 bodies in the exhibit are in various poses. One is swinginga baseball bat; one is head down, feet up on a skateboard; one issitting in a thoughtful pose. Conti said the exhibit will be in the lower concourse of the museumso visitors who might be bothered by it won't just stumble upon it. "It isn't for everybody, but it is a really unique way to learnabout the human body," he said. "We are all about making science relative to people. I would arguethat nothing is as important as your personal health orwell-being." The exhibit is hands-off, and no photography is permitted. Butthere are plenty of hands-on learning activities, seminars,lectures and discussions scheduled during the exhibit's four-monthrun. For instance, the notion that the brain has the consistency ofpudding is an opportunity to educate people about why they need towear bike helmets. Programs in July and August at the museum will include childcar-seat checks and bike helmet fit checks. "We really have one body, and it's important to take care of it,"Conti said. Body Worlds & the Brain What: An exhibit featuring plastics-preserved human bodies to teachabout human anatomy. When: Friday through Sept. 23 Where: Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St. Tickets: (804) 864-1400 or . Timed exhibit tickets are available. General tickets are $14 forages 4-12 and for age 60 and older, $15 for ages 13-59. Tickets formembers are $7.50. Tickets to view "Body Worlds" and other museum exhibits are $19 forages 4-12 and 60 and older, and $20 for ages 13-59. Audio tours may be purchased for an additional fee. Audio tourtickets are $5 extra for adults and $3.50 extra for members,seniors, youth and groups. No photography. No cellphone cameras. Sponsors: HCA Virginia, Health Diagnostic Laboratory and Virginia 529 Special events with the exhibit Traumatic Brain Injury: Is the Die Cast at the Moment of Impact? 7-8 p.m. Wednesday. Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause ofdeath and disability in young adults. John Povlishock, chairman ofthe anatomy and neurobiology department at Virginia CommonwealthUniversity, will speak. Free. Reservations requested. Artist Nights. 6-8 p.m. July 10 and 7-9 p.m. Sept. 11. Artists and students ofall ages and abilities are invited to hone their figure drawing andartistic skills. Artists bring their own supplies. Chairs will beprovided. No photography. Free with purchase of ticket to theexhibit. Space is limited, so advance purchase of tickets isrecommended. Brain Waves. 5-9 p.m. July 20 and 5-9 p.m. Aug. 17. Lots of hands-on activitiesto learn about the brain. Bring in bike helmets for a professionalfitting by the Virginia Department of Health. Bring in child car orbooster seat for curbside fittings and adjustments by Virginia FarmBureau staff. Included with Science Museum of Virginia admission."Body Worlds & the Brain" exhibition tickets sold separately. Lunch Break Science series. Noon-1 p.m. Wednesdays. Free. June 6. "You Won't Believe Your Eyes – Amazing Facts about theBody's Most Complex Sensory Organ," presented by optometrist AmandaPaull. June 27. "My Brain … My Magnificent Motherboard," presented by AnneMcDonnell, executive director of the Brain Injury Association ofVirginia. Aug. 8. "ADHD, Dyslexia, Learning Disorders, Asperger's and Autism,"presented by Mark Smith, a chiropractic neurologist at the BrainBalance Achievement Center of Richmond. Aug. 29. "The Neuroscience of Morality," presented by Mark Reimers of theVirginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics at theVCU School of Medicine. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Tamper Evident Labels , Electric Meter Security Seals Manufacturer, and more. For more , please visit Wire Security Seals today!
Related Articles -
Tamper Evident Labels, Electric Meter Security Seals Manufacturer,
| 
