The human body is at once a work of art, a necessary tool, and a stunning display of practical science. The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium invites visitors to explore the inner workings of the human body in its new seasonal exhibition “Our Body: The Universe Within,” on display through April 23.
Produced by the Anatomical Sciences & Technologies Foundation in Hong Kong, this popular show has traveled all over the world with the goal of providing a deeper understanding of the form and functions of the human body. And it doesn’t achieve this through skeletons alone. No, “Our Body” features roughly 200 human specimens that have been preserved using a process known as polymer impregnation, wherein fluids in the body are replaced by a liquid plastic, resulting in a solid specimen that retains the body’s intricate detailing. From three-dimensional organs to sliced sections of the human anatomy, these specimens illustrate the wonder of our bodies’ inner workings, explains South Florida Science Center and Aquarium CEO Lou Crampton.
“You will leave here with a sense of awe at how the machine of your body actually works,” Crampton says. “It will change you.”
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| “Our Body: The Universe Within,” on display to April 23. Photo courtesy of the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium |
The South Florida Science Center partnered with Jupiter Medical Center and Palm Healthcare Foundation to bring “Our Body” to Palm Beach County. All three organizations believe the “Our Body” experience will prompt visitors to think about how one’s lifestyle impacts the health of the body.
The exhibition stresses the role of healthy living by presenting the specimens in active positions, i.e. illustrating the work of the skeletal system by placing a skeleton on a workout bike, showcasing the role of the brain and nervous system through a specimen posed at a chessboard, and highlighting the importance of the muscle structure with a body bent backward kicking a soccer ball. It also compares healthy and unhealthy organs, juxtaposing a cancerous lung with a normal one and a brain with a stroke against a healthy one. These setups stress the importance of good diet and exercise by depicting the repercussions of poor lifestyle choices.
But as practical as “Our Body” is, it’s also hauntingly beautiful and crazy cool to look at. The displays are thoughtful and even artistic in some instances, from the arteries that resemble coral to a body sliced into layers from head to toe. Visitors will also leave armed with new tidbits of trivia. For example, did you know that the small intestine is more than 10 feet long?
“Our Body: The Universe Within” is appropriate—and illuminating—for all ages. It is open seven days a week, but try to stop by on Saturdays when hands-on exhibits are on display. Who can pass up the chance to hold a sheep’s brain? Not this reporter.
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| “Our Body: The Universe Within,” on display to April 23. Photo courtesy of the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium |
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