Four million newborns die each year, and 98% of those deaths occur in the developing world. Many of these deaths could be prevented with infant incubators. Hospitals in the developing world often receive incubator donations, but a Duke University study in 2007 found that 96% of the donated incubators break down within five years. Few countries, however, have the expertise and infrastructure to fix these incubators.

So a non-profit engineering firm, Design That Matters, has undertaken the challenge of creating affordable infant incubators that can be easily maintained and repaired. One of the most stunning designs is an incubator built from car parts. Host Peggy Wehmeyer has more.

Encore presentation from January 9, 2010.

Music for this show ...