In the Sahara, one of the most effective cooling systems belongs to an ant. The Saharan silver ant, Cataglyphis bombycina, survives in an environment where ground temperatures can become extreme. Its silver appearance is not simply colour. Under a microscope, much of the ant's body is covered in dense, triangular hairs. Research has shown that these structures help manage heat in two ways: they reflect incoming solar radiation and improve the body's ability to release thermal

At some of the world’s highest observatories, fresh air is not necessarily safe air. The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, better known as ALMA, operates on Chile’s Chajnantor Plateau at approximately 5,000 metres above sea level. At that altitude, air pressure is roughly half what it is at sea level, meaning every breath delivers far less oxygen to the body. Simple tasks become exhausting, concentration can deteriorate and prolonged exposure may lead to serious a

Last week, we looked at the transition to R32. This week, our Mechanical team turned its attention to a different approach to heating and cooling: ground source geothermal systems. On 26 August, the team visited the RHCS Experience Centre, where a fully functioning geothermal heating and cooling system provided an opportunity to see the technology operating beyond the drawings. The centre brings together a live plant room, operational ground loop, underfloor heating circu

With a bigger pipeline of projects ahead, Goldfish & Bay is growing fast, and we’re looking for Senior and Intermediate Engineers who want to be part of what we’re building. We’re currently expanding across: ⚙️ Mechanical ⚡ Electrical 💧 Hydraulic 🔥 Fire Services 🏗️ Civil We want engineers who are technically strong, enjoy solving problems and aren’t afraid to have an opinion. People who want more than just another desk, another project number and another Monday morning mee

An operating room does not just need to be clean. Its air needs to behave differently from the air in the rooms around it. Modern operating theatres are carefully controlled environments where ventilation, filtration, temperature, humidity and pressure all form part of the engineering strategy for reducing airborne contamination. One of the most interesting parts is something you cannot see: air pressure. For many operating rooms, the room is maintained at a higher pressure t