Body Worlds 2: The 3-Pound Gem is a Houston exhibit that focuses heavily on the many functions of the human brain. Every attraction – from brains to bones to full-size human beings – is the remnants of real people who, in their lifetime, donated their bodies to science.
These donations all underwent plastination, an innovative process of human preservation created by Gunther von Hagens. One donor’s letter was displayed in the exhibit.

“After seeing the plastination exhibition, I was so impressed with what an artistic and useful purpose [my body could be used for],” wrote the donor, who stated he was “fascinated” by being preserved forever. “When my body and I part, I would like to think that it could go on being useful to other people.”

The exhibit closely explores the activities of the brain. Posters hung throughout illustrate how our brain develops individual personalities, stores memory, falls in love, and develops through childhood, to name a few.

Throughout the exhibit, there are many intricate models of functions of the human body. In one attraction, a human’s blood vessels and capillaries have been dyed red to vividly project the amount of blood in our bodies. In another, a set of healthy off-white lungs is compared to a gray smoker’s lungs and a deep black coal miner’s lungs.

The complete bodies have been posed in some way to further demonstrate the
way our muscles move and work together. Some of the many shapes and sizes include a teenage skateboarder, a ballet dancer, a soccer player, and a pair of ice skaters. Even in poses of leisure, such as “The Thinker,” it is evident exactly how many different muscles are being used.

Many attractions have been sliced in parts to show how the insides of our bodies work. One attraction shows a woman’s head pulled apart to further illustrate the workings of the inner face. Another attraction shows a man sliced into 12 pieces to demonstrate how each individual layer operates.

The exhibit features an extensive attraction on pregnancy. The fetus is shown in several growth periods from a size no bigger than a few centimeters to an almost full-grown baby. A pregnant woman is displayed with a baby inside her uterus, and her visible lung reveals smoking tendencies.

An audio accompaniment is available for additional cost. Each individual attraction contains a number that can be punched into the audio device for detailed explanations, similarities between other attractions, and background information.

Body Worlds 2 is an example of modern technology at its finest. Through progressive machinery and enlightened minds, people of today have better understanding of how their own bodies work.