New exhibit opens at American Museum of Natural History

A new exhibit opens Nov. 7 at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan — “The Secret World Inside You” takes visitors on a tour of the ecosystem that is the human body.

The exhibit uses interactive activities, videos and live theater to explore the microbes inside bodies, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and other organisms too small to see with the human eye that are collectively called the human microbiome. The microbiome could play an important role in health problems such as allergies, asthma, obesity, and anxiety and depression, according to the museum’s news release. The "Secret World Inside You" explores microbes on skin and in the mouth, gastrointestinal tract and reproductive system.

Admission to the exhibit requires a Museum Plus One ticket, which costs $27 for adults, $22 for students and seniors and $16 for children 2 to 12. The museum is on Central Park West at 79th Street; for more information, call 212-769-5100 or visit amnh.org. Advance online ticket purchasing is recommended. The exhibit closes Aug. 14, 2016.