Incubators

An incubator is a device or environment that provides controlled conditions to support development or growth. The term covers equipment used in medicine, biology, agriculture, and even business. Common features include regulated temperature, humidity, airflow, and in some cases gas composition or turning mechanisms.

In healthcare, a neonatal incubator creates an enclosed, thermally stable environment for newborns, especially premature or ill infants. Temperature is maintained by radiative heat sources and thermal insulation; humidity and oxygen concentrations can be adjusted; continuous monitoring and alarms are standard, with infection control measures essential.

In laboratories, incubators provide stable conditions for growing microbes or cultured cells. CO2 incubators maintain specific carbon dioxide levels for mammalian cell culture; others regulate temperature and humidity for bacterial or fungal cultures. Calibration, routine maintenance, and clean handling are required to prevent contamination.

Incubators for eggs or animal breeding supply controlled temperature, humidity, and egg turning. Poultry hatcheries commonly use automatic turning and humidity control to improve hatch rates. Size and capacity vary from small household units to industrial-grade machines.

In the business sector, an incubator offers support to early-stage startups, including workspace, mentorship, networks, and sometimes seed funding. Programs may be university-linked or independent and typically involve a structured period of coaching, culminating in a pitch or demo day.