11 hours ago
BBC star reveals how to instantly cool down a 'boiling car' in a heatwave, saying tip is: 'better than air-con'
Anyone who's ever returned to a holiday hire car that's been left in the full glare of a scorching sun will know that frying an egg on the bonnet is an entirely realistic scenario - alongside scalding seatbelt buckles, burning hot seats and 'hairdryer' air.
While blasting icy air-con is effective, it takes a while to kick in - but scientist and BBC presenter Hannah Fry has a clever trick up her sleeve for ridding a vehicle of hot air in seconds.
The presenter, who has 1.3million followers on Instagram, shared the science-based hack ahead of this weekend's heatwave, with temperatures expected to soar to in the UK to 34C.
Yesterday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued the alert to cover five regions of England - the East Midlands, South East, South West, East and London.
A yellow health alert has also been issued for the Yorkshire and Humber and West Midlands regions. Both alerts begin at 12pm tomorrow and end at 6pm next Tuesday.
It's a similar picture across the Med too, with much of Southern Spain expecting 38C on Sunday and parts of Southern Italy set to rise to 37C.
Fry, 41, who has a PHD in fluid dynamics, the study of how liquids and gases flow, said a few simple moves could help dramatically cool a car in seconds.
In the video, she says 'Don't bother putting on the air-con, that would take about five minutes - it's not worth it'.
Hannah is then seen opening the rear passenger left hand side window - but says any window on the opposite side to the driver's will do.
The next move, she admits, might make people 'look like a bit of an idiot' and involves very quickly opening and closing the driver's door - but, she says, the hack starts to immediately cool the car.
How does it work? Hannah explains: 'When you open and close the door, and you do it quickly, the door, as it's moving outwards, sweeps out all of the air that's in the way, creating this area of low pressure.'
The science whizz continues: 'That creates something called bulk flow, which means all of the hot, sweaty, horrible air inside the car is drawn outwards.'
Pointing at the open window on the other side of the car, Hannah says: 'And the only way to re-fill it is with nice, fresh, easy air from over that side.'
She adds: 'It only takes two or three goes and suddenly it's beautifully temperate'.
The hack has sparked plenty of responses, with BBC radio star Zoe Ball posting: 'Trying this NOW'.
One person, from Australia, said there was no shame in looking silly if it made for a cooler car, saying: 'I will try that and no one in Australia would ever be embarrassed trying anything to cool down our cars before we get in.
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A post shared by Hannah Fry (@fryrsquared)
The scientist, who has PHD in flow dynamics, explained how simply opening a window on one side of the car, and then rapidly opening and closing a car door on the other side can kick-start bulk flow, which sees hot air displaced with cooler air
'Most times we can't even touch the steering wheel or the belt buckle in the summer.'
Another impressed follower added: 'This may be the best reel I have ever seen.'
One person said it might take a little more than flow dynamics to outwit a Sunshine State summer, saying: 'I mean this DOES work, but "temperate" might be a pretty bigvstretch for those of us in Florida. Lol. I have a burn scar on my thigh from my seat belt.'
In the UK in the coming days, the Government agency has warned that significant impacts are likely across health and social care services, including an increase in demand, during the alert period.
The UK's hottest day of the year so far was recorded last Saturday when Charlwood in Surrey reached 33.2C (91.8F) – but this could be beaten over the coming days.
