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3 clusters · 61 sources · 19 days · First seen about 2 months ago · Last updated about 1 month ago

Death of Body Worlds founder

Overview

German anatomist Gunther von Hagens, who invented plastination in the 1970s and founded the Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg, died on 24 July 2026 at age 81. His death followed a cerebral haemorrhage in a Heidelberg hospital; he had lived with Parkinson’s disease for over a decade.

Von Hagens created the internationally touring Body Worlds exhibitions, first shown in Japan in 1995 and later visited by more than 58 million people worldwide. The displays, featuring plastinated human bodies in lifelike poses, have drawn both fascination and ethical controversy.

Before his death, von Hagens publicly expressed a wish to have his own body plastinated, and his family confirmed they will honor that request, though they have not decided whether the resulting specimen will be exhibited.

Entities

Gunther von Hagens · Body Worlds · Heidelberg · Rurik von Hagens · University of Heidelberg

Timeline

about 1 month ago

[CULTURE] 2 sources
Gunther von Hagens, creator of Body Worlds, has died
The late anatomist Gunther von Hagens, creator of the ‘Body Worlds’ plastination exhibitions, has passed away, leaving a legacy of displays seen by millions worldwide.
about 2 months ago

[CULTURE] 3 sources
Gunther von Hagens, Creator of Body Worlds, Dies at 81
German anatomist Gunther von Hagens, creator of the Body Worlds plastination exhibitions, died at 81 in Heidelberg from a cerebral haemorrhage; his body will be plastinated per his wishes.
about 2 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 56 sources
German anatomist Gunther von Hagens, creator of Body Worlds, dies at 81
German anatomist Gunther von Hagens, inventor of plastination and the Body Worlds exhibitions, died at 81 on 24 July 2026; his family will fulfill his wish to be plastinated.

Sources

athensmagazine.gr · aufbruch.ch · beerpla.net · berliner-kurier.de · bild.de · brandonsun.com · ciencia.estadao.com.br · cyprusnewsgazette.com · dorstenerzeitung.de · efsyn.gr · enciclopedia.com.br · faz.net · fehmarn24.de · feminis.ro · fortbildung24.com · freundin.de · general-anzeiger-bonn.de · ibtimes.com.au · iefimerida.gr · information.tv5monde.com · kosmo.at · kreiszeitung.de · kurierverlag.de · lesinguliersete.fr · letemps.ch · liveblog.wtop.com · lopezdoriga.com · m.otz.de · mannheim24.de · meinegemeinde.vol.at · meinpolitikblog.de · muensterlandzeitung.de · mymotherlode.com · nachrichten.at · newzs.de · nn.de · ntv.de · oceancare.org · onetz.de · oronoticiaspuebla.com · perthnow.com.au · pracovna.aktualne.cz · promimedien.com · promotions.hu · ruhr24.de · saarbruecker-zeitung.de · saintpierredentremontisere.fr · sdpnoticias.com