BBC presenter demonstrates simple window and door trick that instantly clears hot air from vehicles during intense heat in England

We’ve all been there.

You park your car on a sunny day, head off to run a few errands, and return to find it’s basically become a mobile sauna.

The seats could grill your thighs, the steering wheel feels like a frying pan, and the seatbelt buckle?

Forget it—it’s a branding iron.

Sure, blasting the air conditioning helps, but it takes forever to make a dent.

Thankfully, BBC presenter and scientist Hannah Fry has come to the rescue with a surprisingly simple car-cooling hack—backed by science, no less.

The Heat Is On Across Europe—And the UK’s Feeling It Too

As the UK braces for another sweltering weekend—temperatures are expected to climb to a scorching 34°C—Hannah Fry has shared a trick that might just save your sanity.

She posted the tip on Instagram (where she has over 1.3 million followers), and it’s already creating a buzz.

Meanwhile, the UK Health Security Agency has issued a heat alert that kicks in from noon on Saturday until 6 p.m. next Tuesday.

It covers regions like the East Midlands, London, the South East, and more.

And it’s not just the UK feeling the burn—Spain could see an eye-watering 47°C, Italy’s roads are melting, and wildfires are raging through Greece.

A Scientist’s Cool Trick for a Hot Car

Now, let’s talk solutions.

Hannah Fry, who holds a PhD in fluid dynamics (aka the science of how liquids and gases move), dropped a clever method that can cool your car in literal seconds—and it doesn’t involve turning on the air conditioning.

In a short demo video, Fry suggests skipping the A/C altogether at first.

“Don’t bother putting on the air-con—that would take about five minutes,” she says.

Instead, here’s what she does:

1. Open a window on the opposite side of the driver—like the rear left window if you’re in the driver’s seat.
2. Then, and here’s the fun part, rapidly open and close the driver’s door a few times.

Yes, she admits you might “look like a bit of an idiot,” but trust the process.

The Science Behind the Weird-Looking Door Flap

It might seem silly, but here’s how it works.

According to Fry, when you swing the door open and shut quickly, it creates an area of low pressure that pushes the hot air out.

This movement causes something called “bulk flow,” which basically forces the stifling hot air inside the car to rush out.

With the window open on the other side, fresh air flows in to replace the hot air that just got swept away.

Do it two or three times and boom—your car’s temperature drops dramatically.

“Suddenly it’s beautifully temperate,” she says.

Internet Reactions: From Curious to Hilarious

Unsurprisingly, her video caught the attention of many, including BBC radio host Zoe Ball, who commented: “Trying this NOW.”

One Australian fan chimed in saying, “No one in Australia would ever be embarrassed trying anything to cool down our cars.”

Another said the hack might not be quite enough for Florida’s furnace-like summers, joking, “I have a burn scar on my thigh from my seatbelt!”

One enthusiastic viewer declared, “This may be the best reel I have ever seen.”

Heatwave Warnings and What Lies Ahead

As the heatwave continues, health officials in the UK are urging people to take precautions, especially vulnerable groups.

The heat is expected to put extra pressure on healthcare and social services due to increased demand.

Just last weekend, the UK hit its hottest temperature of the year at 33.2°C in Charlwood, Surrey—and there’s a good chance that record could be smashed again in the coming days.

What’s Next?

So, before you fry your palms on the steering wheel or jump out of your seat like it’s made of lava, give Hannah Fry’s hack a shot.

It might just save your skin—literally.

And with climate change making extreme heat more common, little tips like this one might become essential survival tricks in the years ahead.

Stay cool out there!