So successful was the team's shell-less culture system that several chicks hatched successfully at the end of the normal incubation period and grew into normal chickens.
Scientists have been working for decades to try and develop a shell-less culture system, or SLCS, to observe the development of an embryonic bird.
So, to prevent the membrane from drying out, the team mounted their culture vessel on a rotary shaker used to generate continuous motion, usually for mixing.
At 6 rotations per minute, the survival rate was highest, but all embryos showed signs of developmental delays.
At 10 rotations per minute, the survival rate was slightly lower, and some embryos developed abnormalities, but the rate of survival for normal embryos was strong.

A Radical New System Shows a Way to Grow Chickens Without Eggshells