Gunther von Hagens, Body Worlds creator, dies at 80

Gunther von Hagens, the German anatomist famous for creating plastination and launching the controversial 'Body Worlds' exhibitions, has died. He developed this tissue preservation technique in 1977 at the University of Heidelberg, replacing bodily fluids with hardening plastics. The first Body Worlds exhibition took place in Tokyo in 1995, eventually spreading to 168 cities worldwide and attracting around 58 million visitors over three decades. Dubbed 'Dr. Death,' von Hagens faced criticism over the sources of his bodies, including accusations of using executed Chinese prisoners. He maintained he obtained bodies ethically, with most coming from over 19,000 donors. It's reported that his own body will also be plastinated for the collection.