

Martin Couney, Saved Thousands of Premature Babies Wasn’t a Doctor at All
At the turn of the century, visitors to Coney Island might wade in the water, eat ice cream, or ride a rollercoaster at Luna Park, an amusement park that had just opened. However, your promenade along the boardwalk may also include a visit to what amounts to the functional equivalent of a neonatal intensive care unit, complete with incubators full of premature babies sleeping inside of them.
It wouldn’t be an accident: in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, babies in incubators were a common sideshow. Premature babies could be seen in permanent exhibits like the one at Luna Park as well as at international fairs. The infants, however, weren’t there to be exhibited; rather, they were there to fight for their lives with the assistance of a courageous German man, Martin Couney.
Incubators, the most advanced technology available at the time, were used by Couney to keep premature babies alive. But prior to his ground-breaking work, doctors ridiculed or disregarded the technology.
French obstetrician Stéphane Tarnier created baby incubators after observing them in use at a zoo. Tarnier changed the concept he’d seen applied to newborn chickens to newborn people. However, in the early years of their existence, they did not have widespread adaptation.
The medical community’s attitude toward premature babies was one of the issues. Many people believed that it was pointless and expensive to care for premature babies. Low birth weight infants were cared for, but mortality was high and doctors believed Tarnier’s invention was not scientific. Few physicians think it has the ability to save lives because it was so novel and uncommon.
Here comes Pierre Budin, a French doctor who questioned why more medical facilities weren’t purchasing incubators. Despite the fact that he started conducting fruitful research with the technology in 1888, he encountered persistent difficulties when trying to secure funding for incubators. He made the decision to exhibit incubators at the Berlin World’s Fair in 1896.

Fairs at the time were more than just places to enjoy rides and eat food. The Great Exhibition, organized by Victorian-era England in 1851, served as hubs for international knowledge-sharing and technological advancement. It was crucial for both professionals and the general public to learn more about the most significant discoveries of the time from the new machines, devices, and scientific advancements that the Industrial Revolution had produced.
This was also true of the World’s Fair in 1896. There, German Martin Couney saw a collection of several premature babies that Budin had borrowed from a hospital in Berlin. Couney knew right away that people would pay to see babies in incubators and that the unique exhibit would save babies’ lives. The sight was so unusual that people crowded into the display, paying money while the doctors gave new life to the six infants.
Both Couney understood they had a potential lifesaver on their hands after the exhibit’s success. Since his daughter had been born early, Couney became interested in the care of premature babies even though historians now believe he was not a medical doctor. If hospitals refused to treat premature babies, Couney could, using fairs and exhibitions to draw crowds and funds for their neonatal care.
Coney Island was a marvel in and of itself at the time. Every weekend throughout the summer, tens of thousands of pleasure seekers flocked to the beach and boardwalk. As a result, there was a flourishing culture of sideshows, amusement parks, and vendors that appeared all along the beach. Coney Island’s appeal was made even more piquant by its relatively relaxed, casual atmosphere, where New York’s massive population could let their hair down and indulge themselves.

Incubators were a new attraction at Luna Park in Coney Island that opened for business in 1903. After relocating permanently to the US, Couney launched two incubator exhibits: Dreamland, located in Coney Island, and Luna Park. A fascinated audience watched as nurses attended to the babies. The premature baby exhibits featured carnival barkers, just like any other amusement, luring people in to see the babies. The premature babies benefited from ticket sales.
For many years, Couney ran the exhibits; at one Atlantic City incubator exhibit, he even asked his daughter Hildegard, the preemie who survived, for assistance. He received the babies from hospitals across the nation and accepted them at no cost. Slowly, thousands of babies were nursed back to health, and all because the public loved seeing them warm and cozy in their incubators.
Lucille Horn, who was born prematurely in 1920, said in an interview with NPR: “I think it was definitely more of a freak show, but as long as they saw me and I was alive, it was all right. Horn lived to be 96, and witnessed something that they usually did not see. She was only one of the babies who made it out alive; during his career, Couney claimed an 85 percent success rate and to have saved 6,500 babies.

The incubators were a serious matter of medicine even though they had developed into a beloved sideshow. As more hospitals started using incubators and his methods in 1943, Couney ended the performance at Coney Island. Even though one in ten babies born in the US are premature today, Couney and the carnival babies have significantly increased their chances of survival.

The Day an Israeli F-15 Landed with One Wing: Zivi Nedivi’s Unbelievable Mid-Air Survival
Discover the astonishing true story of Israeli pilot Zivi Nedivi, who safely landed an F-15 after a mid-air collision tore off its entire right wing. Learn how skill, quick thinking, and the F-15’s unique design turned a disaster into a legendary feat in aviation history

The Mouth of Truth: Ancient Rome’s Legendary "Lie Detector" That Bit Off Hands
Discover the chilling legend of the Mouth of Truth (Bocca della Verità) in Ancient Rome—a massive carved stone face believed to bite off the hand of anyone who lied while inserting their hand into its gaping mouth. Uncover the truth behind its eerie reputation and how this ancient artifact became a symbol of honesty and fear.

Iranian inmate dies from happiness after finding out he will not be executed
An Iranian man who was convicted of murder reportedly died from happiness after learning that his death sentence was being commuted.

Nordlingen, The Town Inside A Meteorite Crater With Millions Of Meteorite Diamonds
The German town of Nördlingen is embedded with 72,000 tons of microscopic diamonds. About 15 million years ago, a meteorite hit this region, and the impact created a massive depression and formed rocks containing diamonds, glass, and crystals. The town was built in the impact crater sometime around 898 CE.

Will & William Wests: The puzzling situation of two inmates who are identical but not related
These are the mugshots of Will West and William West, and they are not related. They were both sent to Leavenworth Prison at the same time, in 1903, and after some confusion, the staff understood they had two different prisoners with the nearly same name, who looked exactly alike. They are part of the reason fingerprints are now used as identification.

10 world’s most destructive and dangerous volcanic eruptions in history
Volcanic eruptions can devastate cities, change the world's atmosphere, and devastate economic systems. They can create molten lava rivers, mudslides, suffocating ash, and poisonous gases that cause chaos around the world for years. A volcanic explosion's effects can be massive, from its size to its death toll to its economic cost. Here is ten world’s most destructive and dangerous volcanic eruptions in history.

Story of Kathrine Switzer: the first woman to run in Boston Marathon
Before women were allowed to run in the Boston Marathon, Kathrine Switzer participated. A race official attempted to forcefully remove her from the race in 1967, but her boyfriend pushed him down. She was the first female finisher who had a numbered entry in the race.

Vince Coleman, a railway dispatcher, sacrificed his own life
Vince Coleman, a railway dispatcher, sacrificed his life in order to warn an incoming train of an imminent explosion. His telegraph said “Hold up the train. Ammunition ship afire in harbor making for Pier 6 and will explode. Guess this will be my last message. Good-bye, boys.” He saved 300 lives.

Man's Blood Helped Save Millions of Babies
Australian blood donor James Harrison has been one of our most impressive and valued donors, having donated for 60 years. Know his story, how he was a pioneer of our Anti-D program, and why this matters.

How did Howard Florey discover penicillin
Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming, but he never attempted to turn it into an antibiotic. It wasn't until ten years later that Howard Florey discovered Fleming's obscure paper and understood the mold's potential. Up to 200 million lives may have been saved as a result of Florey's work.

How Sleep Deprivation Was Once Used as Torture
Sleep deprivation, long before modern interrogation techniques, was considered a “clean” and effective form of torture—leaving no physical scars, yet breaking minds with haunting silence. Victims endured days and nights without rest, leading to vivid hallucinations, disorientation, and psychological torment. This article traces the dark history of sleep deprivation as a weapon, examines the science behind its effects on the brain, and shines a light on the painful balance between human endurance and cruelty in the annals of coercion.

Nathan's Famous Doctor Stunt
When Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs first opened in 1916, the owner hired people to dress as doctors and eat hot dogs outside his shop, to convince people his hot dogs were healthy.

Robert Odlum, the first person to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge
The first person to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge was a professional high diver who "wanted to demonstrate that people did not die simply by falling through the air, thus encouraging people to be willing to jump from a burning building into a net." He proved himself correct by safely falling 135 feet through the air and dying only when he hit the water.

Ancient Jericho: The First Walled City In History
The ancient city of Jericho is the world's oldest walled city, with evidence of stone fortifications dating back nearly 9000 years.

Graves holding hands over wall, A Catholic woman and her Protestant husband grave
A protestant man and a Catholic woman who weren't allowed from being buried together in a graveyard in 19th-century Holland turned their graves into a monument showing them holding hands across the wall separating them.

3 men lived on top of a billboard in tents for almost 9 months
From 1982-1983, three men in Allentown PA competed in a radio contest in which they lived on top of a billboard in tents. Whoever stayed up longest would win a house. Due to economic pressure from the recession, none of the contestants wanted to give up, so the contest lasted almost 9 months.

The Assassination Of King Alexander
The assassination of King Alexander of Yugoslavia marked a pivotal moment in the country's history. This article delves into the rise and reign of King Alexander, exploring his early life and ascension to the throne. It also examines the political and social climate in interwar Yugoslavia, setting the stage for the tensions and challenges that ultimately culminated in his tragic assassination. By understanding the context in which this event unfolded, we can better grasp the significance and impact it had on the nation and its future.

15 interesting facts about Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II, who ruled Britain for 70 years, has away at the age of 96. She was the country's longest-reigning monarch. Here are some little-known facts about her.

The 1814 London beer flood
In 1814, there was a beer flood in London when a tank containing more than 300,000 gallons ruptured in which 8 people drowned.

From Flapper to Fashion Week: How 1920s Style Still Shapes Modern Trends
The roaring 1920s revolutionized fashion, introducing bold styles, daring cuts, and a spirit of freedom that still inspires today’s wardrobes. From flapper dresses to statement accessories, here’s how the Jazz Age lives on in modern fashion.

Why was the Eiffel Tower almost demolished
The Eiffel Tower was intended to be a temporary structure for the World's Fair in 1889, but it was nearly dismantled and sold for scrap metal. It was saved because of its potential use as a radio antenna, and it now serves as a tourist attraction as well as a working broadcast tower.

Tunnels Dug by ancient giant sloths, A South American Megafauna
For years, scientists didn’t know what caused mysterious cave networks in South America. In 2010, they learned that the caves were actually tunnels dug by ancient giant sloths

New London School Explosion, Deadliest school disaster which killed almost 300 children and teachers
In 1937, a gas leak in the basement at the local school in New London, Texas caused a massive explosion which killed almost 300 children and teachers, the deadliest school disaster in US history. Adolf Hitler even sent his condolences by telegram.

Irena Sendler: woman who rescued Jews during holocaust
Irene Sendler was the Zegota resistance group's head of the children's department. She risked her life to smuggle children out of the Warsaw ghetto, place them with Polish families or orphanages, give each child a new identity, and keep records so that they could be returned to their families. In 1943, the Gestapo arrested and sentenced her to death, but she was rescued by Zegota.

How a Total Lunar Eclipse Saved Christopher Columbus in 1504
In 1504, Christopher Columbus was stranded in Jamaica with natives who refused to give him food. But he knew the date and time of an upcoming lunar eclipse. So he told the natives that his gods were angry at their treatment of him, and would provide a clear sign. Once the eclipse started, the natives raced to give him food and begged for mercy.