Virtual expedition: 350-year-old bird mummy rediscovered!

Virtual expedition: 350-year-old bird mummy rediscovered!

A remarkable project that combines science and virtual reality has been presented by the universities in Innsbruck. Under the title “The Bird from the Ice,” scientists have analyzed the glacier mummy of a purple heron, which was preserved in the glacier ice of the Gurgler Ferner over 350 years ago, using state-of-the-art technologies. The examination includes procedures such as micro-computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological analyses. Participants can relive the virtual experience on an excursion at an altitude of 3,000 meters in the Ötztal Alps and have the opportunity to explore the mummy interactively. As the Small newspaper reported, a 15-minute virtual expedition was also offered during a press conference, which impressed journalists.

The project is being worked on in an interdisciplinary manner and combines knowledge from medicine, archeology and biology. The project leader, Christian Huck, director at the Institute for Analytical Chemistry and Radiochemistry at the University of Innsbruck, emphasized the important role of collaboration in these specialist areas. “The Ice Bird” is not only a scientific discovery, but also a platform for education and communication. State Councilor for Science Cornelia Hagele (ÖVP) emphasized the importance of such innovative projects for science communication and education. Those interested can register for the VR experience, which was developed in cooperation with the Tyrolean XR company Mediasquad, via the Medical University of Innsbruck website.

Interactive experiences and didactic approaches

The project, which is supported by the state of Tyrol with 60,665 euros, aims to improve the accessibility of education. Virtual reality (VR) and extended reality (XR) can help to better understand complex topics such as anatomy and environmental history and to be integrated into schools earlier. Participants in the VR experience can even carry out a digital autopsy and understand the individual research steps. An accompanying questionnaire is intended to help evaluate the didactic effectiveness of the format.

In addition, the potential of VR applications in medicine is becoming increasingly clear. Especially in orthopedic traumatology research, it is expected that these technologies will play an important role in surgical planning and patient education in the future. Johannes Pallua, researcher at the University Clinic for Orthopedics and Traumatology, highlights the relevance of XR technologies, which can help to better simulate complex procedures and thereby improve the quality of treatment University of Innsbruck notes.

Recently, interest in virtual technologies in medicine has grown, and there are already applications where doctors use VR glasses in the operating room to project radiological data directly onto the patient. Advances in XR technologies could also open up new possibilities for diagnosis and preoperative planning in the future. The project will continue to be presented publicly so that those interested have the chance to get an idea of ​​this innovative combination of science, technology and education. The IDW also offers further background information on this exciting topic.