Exploring humans from inside out

Did you know that a sneeze can exceed the speed of 100 mph? Or that bone is five times stronger than steel? What about the fact that banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour?

Students in the Advanced Placement biology and anatomy and physiology classes learned these and many more fascinating facts when they visited “BODIES… the Exhibition” in Times Square last week. Even more exciting, they were able to see first-hand the very organs responsible for such incredible phenomena.

The “BODIES” exhibit features more than 200 human bodies and specimens, intricately preserved through the process of silicone polymerization. Meticulous dissection work offers an unprecedented look into the different systems of the human body, as well as the effects of various conditions and diseases on organs within it. Further displays reveal the uses of advanced diagnostic materials and advances such as prosthetics on the body, the conception and development of a fetus, and the diets of different families around the world.

From the start of the tour, we were impressed with the two concurrent themes of the exhibit: life as we know it in the 21st century, and the timeless function of the human body. Throughout the exhibit, the synchronicities and contradictions between the two were reaffirmed, even as the architecture of the preserved specimens overwhelmingly commanded attention.

Alongside every carefully labeled anatomical display were cards explaining not just the function of an organ or system, but also its usage in everyday life. Video accompaniments broached subjects from modern-day stress and obesity to aging and the ill-effects of too many video games. A smoker’s lung blackened with tar alongside a healthy one presented a stark visual reminder of the hazardous effects of smoking. Across the room, an eye-catching display of chocolates recounted an experiment in which subjects were split into groups and offered either one, five or thirty-two candies. The study revealed that the more choices we are given, the less likely we are to be satisfied.