Natural History Museum's Newest Exhibit Explores Human Senses

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — In elementary school everyone learns that humans have five senses: taste, sight, touch, smell, and hearing. But throughout the rest of most people's lives those senses, specifically how they work, are taken for granted.

The American Museum of Natural History's newest exhibit, "Our Senses: An Immersive Experience," seeks to reeducate museumgoers about their senses, according to a museum press release.

"But as it turns out, for humans “reality” isn’t ever exactly what it seems to be," says a museum press release. "In an upcoming highly experiential exhibition at the Museum, funhouse-like spaces will dare visitors to trust their senses—then show how or why what we perceive is not simply what is occurring around us."

"Our Senses" will be made up of 11 interactive galleries that will test visitor's perception. The exhibit will urge visitors to use different senses and explore when senses disagree. One gallery will trick the eyes into perceiving a winding and curving floor and walls, but the feet will feel a flat surface below, according to a museum press release.

The new exhibit will open Monday, Nov. 20 and run until Sunday, Jan. 6, according to a museum press release. "Our Senses" is curated by the museum's Rob DeSalle who recently curated "Brain: The Inside Story." Museum members will have exclusive access to the exhibit between Nov. 17 and Nov. 19.

Photo courtesy American Museum of Natural History