Grow Your Own

 Sometimes the history of items that seem to be from the modern era actually go back further than one would think,  like baby incubators. In the 19th century a French obstetrician got the idea from seeing baby chicks being incubated at the zoo. The invention didn't take off until decades later when baby incubators were exhibited at the 1896 Great Industrial Exposition of Berlin which featured six real premature babies. The exhibit was so popular a permanent location was set up at New York's Coney Island amusement park. For the next four decades a neonatal intensive care unit saved thousands of babies while doubling as a carnival attraction.