Features / Bristicles
12 things you probably didn’t know were invented at the University of Bristol
1. Ribena
Ribena was invented at the university by scientist Dr Vernon Charley in 1936 as a blackcurrant cordial to be added to milk. Originally seen as a health drink, in World War II it was distributed for free to children and pregnant women as an important source of Vitamin C.
Bottling the original ribena recipe. Credit: University of Bristol Library, Special Collections.
2. Mobile phones
Professor Joe McGeehan is widely viewed as one of the pioneers in mobile communications. In 1980, he started work on a new portable mobile radio for the parcel delivery firm Securicor. His design was subsequently manufactured for Securicor by the Finnish firm Mobira-Oy (now Nokia) and the radio became the basis of the company’s first civil mobile phone.
3. Fake snow
Falling snow used in Hollywood movies and cult TV series’ was developed by a Masters student at the University of Bristol. Lizzie Mould worked with Snow Business, the world’s leading supplier of artificial snow, to invent a new environmentally-friendly fluid which could be pumped out of its snow machines in the form of foam to create the effect of snowflakes.
Student Lizzie Mould stands in the fake snow she created. Credit: Bhagesh Sachania
4. Driverless pods
A revolutionary transit system, used by thousands of passengers every day at Heathrow Airport, was designed by engineers at the University. Not only are the driverless pods fast, reliable and low-cost, they have also eliminated 50,000 bus journeys a year.
Driverless pod at Heathrow. Credit: Ultra Global PRT
5. Spitfire wings
In the late 1930s, Sir Alfred Pugsley – one of the leading structural engineers of his generation – advised the designer of the Spitfire, R. J. Mitchell, to increase the stiffness of the aircraft’s wings to reduce vibration. Mitchell’s final design was so sound that over 22,000 Spitfires were built and played a major role in secure victory in World War II.
Photo courtesy of Virgin Experience Days
6. Wi-Fi
The University’s role in the Wi-Fi revolution began over 20 years ago when its research led to the development of common industry standards. These standards ensure that PCs, smartphones, set-top boxes and tablets from different manufacturers all use the same protocols to connect wirelessly to the Internet.
The anechoic chamber used to test WiFi signals. Credit: Bhagesh Sachania
7. Non-stick chewing gum
A non-stick chewing gum that dissolves within just 24 hours was invented by Professor Terence Cosgrove in 2007. Rev7 has the same taste and texture as normal gum, but is water soluble and can be easily removed from surfaces using soap and water.
Rev7 gum. Credit: Revolymer
8. A system for measuring volcanic ash
The work of the University’s Volcanology Research Group has been applied across the globe to reduce a variety of risks posed by volcanoes. Following the Icelandic ash cloud chaos in 2010, they developed a tool which gives more accurate estimates of the amount of ash injected into the atmosphere during a volcanic eruption.
The eruption of Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland. Credit: Susanna Jenkins
9. Biscuit dunking
Scientists discovered the perfect technique for dunking biscuits in hot tea in 1998. Dr Len Fisher, who led the research team, used a gold-plated digestive to investigate and concluded that the perfect dunk should be followed by smoothly twisting the biscuit 180 degrees, so that the dry side supports the weaker, soaked side.
10. Olympic-standard bicycles
Engineers at the University of Bristol played a pivotal role in optimising the medal-winning bikes used by Team GB at the Rio 2016 Olympics. After developing one of the world’s most accurate test rigs for measuring the efficiency of bicycle chain transmissions, researchers were able to test and develop chain and chainrings for the track and BMX bikes.
Prof. Stuart Burgess, University of Bristol – photo by Bhagesh Sachania
11. Eating five-a-day
The important role of dietary fibre in bowel cancer prevention and treatment was identified by researchers in the Colorectal Tumour Biology Group in 1997. Since then, there’s been a considerable increase in public awareness and it has informed the NHS’s famous ‘five-a-day’ campaign to encourage people to eat five portions of fruit and veg a day.
is needed now More than ever
12. A baby-cooling system lives
Professor Marianne Thoresen’s research showed that cooling newborns who had been starved of oxygen during birth could reduce their risk of suffering brain damage. It led to a revolutionary treatment which has been provided by neonatal intensive care units across the UK since 2010 and saves 1,500 babies from death and disability each year.
A water-filled cap helps to cool a baby’s brain after it was deprived of oxygen at birth. Credit: University of Bristol.
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