Our largest organ, and indeed the largest organ for many organisms, is often the most overlooked or susceptible to damage.
Science World's new exhibition, which opens on March 3, shines a spotlight on the "living armour" we all carry around day to day and the shape-shifting, colour-changing, adaptable nature of skin across the animal kingdom.
The average adult has two square metres of skin, about the size of a twin mattress, and it makes up 16 per cent of a person's body weight. Meanwhile, an Indian elephant has 18 square metres (a king mattress), and a raven has 0.17 square metres (two sheets of legal paper). The sole of an elephant's foot can also sense tremors created by an elephant herd stomping 32 km away - which is the distance from Science World to Lion's Bay.
Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity will be on display until May 29 and is chock full of weird facts (like how a salmon's skin can pump salt ions out allowing the fish to survive in both salt and fresh water) and interactive experiences to encourage visitors to learn more about the variety of skin and its impact on social interactions.
In addition to learning about the science behind keratin-based feathers, furs, and quills, and touching specimens like snakeskin and otter fur, the exhibit discusses the evolution and diversity of human skin.
The exhibit tackles topics of racism, prejudice, and discrimination through the lens of history and science and asks guests to investigate the layers of meaning humans have assigned to skin colour.
“Skin is made of simple blocks that form magnificent structures, especially when we see the variety of skin across the animal kingdom,” said Kiki Kirkpatrick, Science World Program Manager. “We’re excited about this exhibit and are looking forward to sharing the science behind skin, an organ that tells an endless and fascinating story when you take a second to look closer.”
