On the other hand, interesting as it may be, it's a little gross.

The bodies in this particular exhibition are real, formerly live, human beings whose specimens have been put through a special process that preserves them without decay. This happens after they have been dissected to display the inner workings of a specific part of our physiology, be it the central nervous system, skin, musculature, bones, internal organs, or just about any other part of the human body.

There are over twenty full body specimens on display throughout the facility and countless other pieces of people, enough probably to build another human or two out of them. Some are presented straightforwardly, a slab of whatever under a pin light with an explanation while others are done almost whimsically; a slice of a kidney injected with colorful dye, for instance, to illuminate the rivers of capillaries that run through it.

There are two different ways to approach a viewing of this exhibition: as science or as art. From a scientific standpoint, clinically detached, this is truly a remarkable opportunity to quite literally see inside the human body. If you have even a passing interest in what makes us tick, this is absolutely a must-see event.

From an artistic perspective, many of the displays are worthy of being shown in a museum - and in fact have, since this traveling exhibition has been shown in galleries and museums around the world. One specimen is displayed as a series of slices, from head to toe, almost the view that one of those full body scan machines might take. The result is a powerful one, especially if you are choosing to view these specimens as some sort of artistic statement.

So that's the way to go into this place - as an appreciator of science or art. And you need to commit fully and block out those creeping little voices in your head that are going, "ewwwww." I had a hard time blocking out those little voices.

These are real people or pieces of real people and yes, I know, it's not like they grabbed them off the street and killed them in order to put their internal organs on display (although that would make a good episode of CSI), but still they are people nevertheless.

Which brings up my other question about the exhibit: is it "appropriate?" From start to finish in the exhibit itself, on the website, and in the literature about it they keep using words like "sensitive" and "respectful" to refer to the presentations. It's even printed on a wall at one point, which makes one wonder if it is a little bit of whistling in a graveyard - keep repeating it and maybe it will be true?

I bring this up because one portion of the exhibition is dedicated to children and pre-natal displays, with several fetuses in different stages of development being shown. A warning is posted outside this room revealing its contents and giving visitors the chance to skip it if they feel they may be disturbed by what is inside. I guess I feel that the same warning should be posted outside the main entrance.

These people must have dedicated their bodies to science but I have a hard time believing they ever envisioned their former selves cut open to reveal their reproductive systems, on display in front of hordes of people in a Las Vegas casino convention hall.