Gunther von Hagens, 'Body Worlds' Creator, Passes Away at 81; Plastination Legacy to Continue
Gunther von Hagens, the German anatomist who pioneered the plastination technique and created the 'Body Worlds' exhibitions, has died at 81 in Heidelberg, Germany. His death followed a cerebral hemorrhage, and he had been living with Parkinson's disease for nearly two decades. Von Hagens' plastination process, developed in 1977, involves replacing bodily fluids with plastics to preserve bodies in lifelike poses for educational purposes. His exhibitions, which have been viewed by over 58 million people globally, aimed to educate the public about anatomy and health. Despite drawing large audiences, the exhibitions faced criticism from religious groups and ethicists. 
