Bodies: The Exhibition

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KarenZ
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Bodies: The Exhibition

Postby KarenZ » Sun Feb 24, 2008 8:03 am

Folks,

I went to see the Bodies: The Exhibition yesterday at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh. It was fascinating and can't help give one a whole new appreciation for the intricate workings of the body. Imagine seeing your body stripped into layers: skin, muscle, veins & arteries, bones, nerves, organs. All of it. There before your eyes. And explanations of how it all works. As you walk through the exhibition, the displays are organized by system: endocrine system, respiratory system, etc. In the respiratory system area you can see the unhealthy black lung of a person who smoked next to the healthy pink lung of a non-smoker. There's a plexiglass container standing next to that display containg hundreds of partially used packs of cigarettes that attendees threw away after seeing the smoker's lung.

The freakiest (can't think of a better word) thing for me was in the nervous system area. Laid out on a clear glass display case was only the NERVES from a human being, still connected to the skull. It was like a huge fishbone. How they maanaged to strip away only the nerves is amazing. It was the same for the circulatory system (just the arteries and veins in our bodies), skeletal system (muscles and bones and skin.) There was a warning before entering the reproductive system area that the display showed fetuses - some deformed. I thought those might be difficult to view, but honeslty, it was simply fascinating to see the development of a fetus from when it's the size of pinhead to a full-term baby.

There's been some controversy, but I think it's a terrific educational tool. Viewing pictures in a book can't compare to this.

If it comes to your neck of the woods, GO.

KarenZ
"Some people are born to make great art and others are born to appreciate it. It is a kind of talent in itself, to be an audience, whether you are the spectator in the gallery or you are listening to the voice of the world's greatest soprano. Not everyone can be the artist. There have to be those who witness the art, who love and appreciate what they have been privileged to see." -- Ann Patchett in Bel Canto.

paddyinthepub
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Joined: Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:44 pm
Location: Philadelphia

Postby paddyinthepub » Sun Feb 24, 2008 6:11 pm

I learned of this travelling exhibition on 60 minutes last week. They were focused not only on how cool the exhibit is but also touching upon the controversy currently surrounding it.

Karen, I loved your detailed descriptions...make me want to see it even more.

From a song standpoint, this topic brings to mind an old Don McClean song.

Andrew McCrew ~ :shock:

:wink:
"once we're inside, it's a carnival ride" ~ ellis paul
paddy


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