BODY WORLDS 3 & The Story of the Heart Opens at the California Science Center, March...

BODY WORLDS 3 & The Story of the Heart Opens at the California Science Center,
March 14, 2008

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The California premiere of
BODY WORLDS 3 & The Story of the Heart opens at the California Science Center
March 14, 2008 and runs through September 7, 2008. The exhibit features over
200 authentic human specimens including whole body plastinates not seen
before, organs, translucent body slices, and the debut of a special
presentation on the heart.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080117/DC11822 )

The Science Center hosted the US premiere of BODY WORLDS in 2004 and BODY
WORLDS 2 in 2005. Combined, the exhibits made Science Center history with a
total of more than 930,000 visitors.
Science Center President Jeffrey N. Rudolph notes that, "After the phenomenal
success we experienced with BODY WORLDS, we are thrilled to host the debut of
BODY WORLDS 3 in California. It's another great opportunity to expand the
scope of our educational mission and present the science of anatomy and
important health messages in a way that we know will encourage further science
learning and positively impact the lifestyle choices of many who see the
exhibit."
BODY WORLDS 3 & The Story of the Heart, presented by Herbalife, is organized
according to the major systems of the body. This includes: the locomotive
system, nervous system, reproductive system, digestive system and
cardiovascular system. The exhibit also features a special presentation on
the heart, revealing through the lens of anatomy, cardiology, psychology and
culture how this four-chambered muscle nourishes, regulates and sustains life.
Through the life-like and dramatic poses of full-body specimens and detailed
presentation of organs and body parts, guests gain profound insights into the
structure and function of healthy and unhealthy bodies.
As with its BODY WORLDS predecessors, BODY WORLDS 3 & The Story of the Heart,
spanning 20,000 sq. feet, will be among the largest exhibits ever presented at
the Science Center.
Created by Dr. Gunther von Hagens, BODY WORLDS 3 is the result of the German
scientist and physician's three decade long research and development endeavors
in Plastination science. BODY WORLDS 3 presents specimens, both organs and
whole-bodies, that have undergone Plastination --- von Hagens' groundbreaking
method of halting decomposition and preserving the body after death for
medical study, which he invented in 1977. Dr. von Hagens says that this
exhibition captures the evolution and refinement of his invention.

The Process of Plastination
During Plastination, all bodily fluids and soluble fats are replaced with
reactive resins and elastomers such as silicon rubber and epoxy, through a
vacuum process. After gas, heat, or light curing, the specimens assume
rigidity and permanence. "The purpose of Plastination from its very inception
was a scientific one, to educate medical students," said Dr. Gunther von
Hagens. "But the interest that laypeople had in the plastinated specimens
inspired me to think of creating public exhibitions, which was followed by the
realization that I had to offer a heightened sense of aesthetics, to avoid
shocking the public and to capture their imagination."
The whole-body plastinates in BODY WORLDS 3 are comprised of people who, in
their lifetime, donated their bodies for Plastination and the express purpose
of educating future generations about health.
"BODY WORLDS 3 is collaboration, a joint quest toward enlightenment between
donor, anatomist and visitor," says Dr. Gunther von Hagens. Nearly 25 million
visitors in more than 40 cities across Asia, Europe, and North America have
viewed these exhibits since the first one debuted in Japan in 1996, and more
than 8,000 donors, including over 700 Americans, have bequeathed their bodies
to von Hagens' Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg, Germany.
In preparation for bringing the first BODY WORLDS exhibit to the United
States, the California Science Center established an Ethics Advisory Committee
that assisted in the review and consideration of the exhibit. This was one in
a series of comprehensive steps to ensure the educational value of the
exhibit. The Science Center conducted a thorough assessment including
committees of its board. The leadership determined that the exhibit was
assembled in an ethical and responsible manner.

To augment the guest experience during the run of BODY WORLDS 3, the Science
Center IMAX Theater will be featuring The Human Body, and Mummies: Secrets of
the Pharaohs. Combo tickets to the IMAX films and BODY WORLDS 3 & The Story of
the Heart are available.
About the California Science Center & General Ticket Info
The California Science Center's mission is as follows:" We aspire to stimulate
curiosity and inspire science learning in everyone by creating fun, memorable
experiences, because we value science as an indispensable tool for
understanding our world, accessibility and inclusiveness, and enriching
people's lives."

The California Science Center and IMAX Theater are located in historic
Exposition Park just west of the Harbor (110) Freeway at 700 Exposition Park
Drive. The Science Center is open daily from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 pm. BODY WORLDS
3 will have extended hours -- from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday from March 14 to September 7, 2008. These hours are subject to
change. Please check the Science Center website for schedule updates. Tickets
for BODY WORLDS 3 & The Story of the Heart are currently on sale. Guests are
encouraged to buy their tickets online at
http://www.californiasciencecenter.org . The exhibit's special group
information number is (213) 744-2019. Body Worlds admission prices are $18.95
for adults; $16.95 for seniors 62+; $12.95 for youth 12 to 18; $11.50 for
students with I.D, and $12.95 for children 3 - 11. Member rates are $13.00 for
adults, $11.50 for Seniors 62+ and $9.00 for youth and children. Special rates
for schools and other groups of 15 and over apply. Special audio guides in
English and Spanish are also available at $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for
children. Audio guides for groups are $4.00, and audio guides for school
groups are $3.00. Admission to all other Science Center exhibits is free.
Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. More
information is also available at http://www.californiasciencecenter.org or
http://www.bodyworlds.com.

About Herbalife
Herbalife (NYSE:HLF) is a global network marketing company that sells
weight-management, nutritional supplements and personal care products intended
to support a healthy lifestyle. Herbalife products are sold in 65 countries
through a network of more than 1.7 million independent distributors. The
company supports the Herbalife Family Foundation and its Casa Herbalife
program to bring good nutrition to children. Please visit Herbalife Investor
Relations for additional information

SOURCE California Science Center

Georgina Gomez of Body Worlds, +1-213-291-9572; or Shell Amega, Paula Wagner,
and Kristina Kurasz of the California Science Center, +1-213-744-7446