Gunther von Hagens, creator of 'Body Worlds' anatomy exhibits, dies at 81

German anatomist Gunther von Hagens, renowned for his controversial "Body Worlds" exhibitions of plastinated human corpses, has died at the age of 81. His team announced his passing on Monday, July 27th, stating he died on July 24th, 2026, after a "long and serious illness." Von Hagens was the inventor of plastination, a technique developed in 1977 at Heidelberg University. This process involves removing water and fat from tissues and replacing them with silicone or epoxy resin, allowing for the preservation and display of human and animal bodies. The "Body Worlds" exhibitions, which have been seen by over 58 million people globally, showcase anatomical structures in various poses to educate the public about anatomy, health, disease, and mortality. Despite facing significant controversy and attempts by authorities in various countries to ban them, the exhibitions have often prevailed in legal challenges. Von Hagens, who grew up in East Germany and defected to West Germany, had expressed a wish for his own body to be plastinated after his death, a request his family has pledged to honor. His team described him as a pioneer, researcher, inventor, and an iconoclastic thinker.