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Gunther von Hagens, creator of Body Worlds and plastination, dies aged 81

Controversial anatomist’s body ‘will definitely be plastinated’ in line with his wishes, a spokesperson said Gunther von Hagens, who developed a technique for permanently preserving human bodies in rigid states and toured the world with his controversial Body Worlds exhibition, has moved closer to fulfilling a long-held wish to be sliced up and displayed in a museum after dying aged 81. “It is with deep sadness that the family and the Institute for Plastination announce the passing of Dr Gunther von Hagens, inventor of plastination and creator of the Body Worlds exhibitions,” the German anatomist’s institute said in a statement on Monday. Continue reading...

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Controversial anatomist’s body ‘will definitely be plastinated’ in line with his wishes, a spokesperson said Gunther von Hagens, who developed a technique for permanently preserving human bodies in rigid states and toured the world with his controversial Body Worlds exhibition, has moved closer to fulfilling a long-held wish to be sliced up and displayed in a museum after dying aged 81. “It is with deep sadness that the family and the Institute for Plastination announce the passing of Dr Gunther von Hagens, inventor of plastination and creator of the Body Worlds exhibitions,” the German anatomist’s institute said in a statement on Monday. Continue reading...

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According to The Guardian’s linked report, Gunther von Hagens, creator of Body Worlds and plastination, dies aged 81, Controversial anatomist’s body ‘will definitely be plastinated’ in line with his wishes, a spokesperson said Gunther von Hagens, who developed a technique for permanently preserving human bodies in rigid states and toured the world with his controversial Body Worlds exhibition, has moved closer to fulfilling a long-held wish to be sliced up and displayed in a museum after dying aged 81. “It is with deep sadness that the family and the Institute for Plastination announce the passing of Dr Gunther von Hagens, inventor of plastination and creator of the Body Worlds exhibitions,” the German anatomist’s institute said in a statement on Monday. Continue reading…

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The development sits in VINI’s Science coverage for readers following research, health, climate, space, medicine, and scientific institutions. The original report is linked so readers can check the source account, follow later updates, and compare new coverage against the first published record. The linked report is dated 2026-07-27T13:52:49+00:00.

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Primary source: Gunther von Hagens, creator of Body Worlds and plastination, dies aged 81 via The Guardian. VINI cites and links the source; it does not reproduce the publisher’s full article text without rights clearance.

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