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Student to star in Richard Hammond’s ‘Miracles of Nature’

9 November 2012

University of Bristol student Dan Smith will be putting the latest 'bat ecolocation' technology to the test on Monday [12 November] when he stars in Richard Hammond's latest series.

University of Bristol student Dan Smith will be putting the latest 'bat ecolocation' technology to the test on Monday [12 November] when he stars in Richard Hammond's latest series.

Despite having only seven per cent vision, the 21-year-old Aeronautical Engineering student has to navigate the mountain bike trail at Ashton Court as part of the Miracles of Nature programme, which is being broadcast on BBC One at 9pm.

Miracles of Nature is a three-part series in which presenter Richard Hammond investigates the extraordinary super-powers of the animal kingdom and finds out how a multitude of amazing creatures are inspiring inventions at the very forefront of science.

Monday’s episode focuses on super-senses found within the natural world. Richard sees first-hand their unique super-senses in action, then meets scientists and engineers who have transferred these extraordinary talents to modern technology. ‘Bat echolocation’ technology has been used on a specially adapted bike, which uses sonar to help guide Dan as he cycles on his own.

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