You know the big building on Euston road with the science-themed neon sculptures in the window? Bus riders from King’s Cross into the West End will know the one I mean. That’s the Wellcome Trust, the world’s largest private biomedical charity.

It was founded by a guy (Henry Wellcome, natch) who was a mad collector of all sorts of things, but particularly medical items of all kinds. He was also a mega-rich pharmaceutical entrepreneur, which allowed him to purchase all the cool stuff he wanted, like Napoleon’s toothbrush.

The Wellcome Trust is has opened a museum to show off all of Henry’s treasures, and the first exhibit, The Heart, is fantastic. Lots of cool stuff: I liked the comparison of hearts from various animals, from an ENORMOUS leathery whale heart, down to a tiny shrew’s heart.

There’s also a human heart, from a still-living transplant patient, and the Fortean Times reports that she went down to have a look at the little guy.

As you might imagine, she found the experience very odd and moving. “Seeing my heart for the first time is an emotional and surreal experience. It caused me so much pain and turmoil when it was inside me. Seeing it sitting here is extremely bizarre and very strange. Finally I can see this odd looking lump of muscle that has given me so much upset. It’s tremendous it has become an object of fascination and will get people thinking about the disease, heart transplants and organ donation.”

Go now! The Heart closes on September 16 and it’s totally FREE!

Via BoingBoing

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