DIY comet making and engineering with Guinness at festive Fringe

Visitors to Imperial were shown how to make their own icy comets during a live demonstration at last night's Fringe event. Imperial Fringe: Fluid Thinking explored the complex role that fluids play in our lives. More than 450 people packed the College's Main Entrance to talk to world-leading experts from across Imperial about their work with fluids - from understanding more about icy interplanetary objects to developing better methods for extracting precious minerals using bubbles. View the slideshow below to see the Fringe in action. Adults and children alike enjoyed the dirty snowball comet interactive demonstration and were able to see first-hand how comets were made. Kids looked on wide eyed as physicist Dr Marina Galand simulated the cosmic production process by vigorously smashing together the ingredients such as ammonia and dry ice in a garbage bag. When presented to the audience, a team member blew hot air from a hairdryer over its icy surface, causing gases to evaporate and creating the distinctive tail synonymous with all comets.