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Timothy Leighton

FRS FREng FMedSci
Professor Timothy Leighton FREng FRS.jpg
Leighton in 2014
Born
Timothy Grant Leighton

(1963-10-16) 16 October 1963 (age 61)
Blackburn, Lancashire
Education Heversham Grammar School, Cumbria
Alma mater University of Cambridge
Known for The Acoustic Bubble
Awards
  • Rayleigh Medal (2014)
  • Clifford Paterson Lecture (2018)
Scientific career
Fields
Institutions
Thesis Image intensifier studies of sonoluminescence, with application to the safe use of medical ultrasound (1988)

Timothy Grant Leighton, born on October 16, 1963, is a British scientist. He was a Professor of Ultrasonics and Underwater Acoustics at the University of Southampton. He is also the main inventor for Sloan Water Technology Ltd., a company built around his cool inventions.

Professor Leighton is a member of three important national science groups. He studied physics and works in many different science areas. These include physical science, medicine, biology, ocean science, and engineering. He joined the University of Southampton in 1992. That same year, he finished his important book, The Acoustic Bubble. He became a full professor at 35 and has written over 400 science papers.

Becoming a Scientist: Education and Early Career

Timothy Leighton went to Heversham Grammar School in Cumbria. He then studied at Magdalene College, Cambridge. There, he earned a top degree in physics and theoretical Physics in 1985. He continued his studies and received his PhD in 1988 from the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge.

After his PhD, he received special research grants. These allowed him to continue his studies at Magdalene College, Cambridge. In 1992, he started working at the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR) at the University of Southampton. He became a lecturer in underwater acoustics. He also completed his famous book, The Acoustic Bubble, that year. He was made a full professor when he was 35 years old.

Amazing Discoveries: Professor Leighton's Research

Professor Leighton leads two research groups: Global-NAMRIP and HEFUA. He is also the main inventor and director of Sloan Water Technology Ltd.. He loves talking about science to kids, the public, and on TV and radio.

His research helps in many areas, from medicine to the environment. He starts with basic math and then creates useful engineering tools. He studies things like acoustical oceanography (sound in oceans) and antimicrobial resistance (superbugs). He also works on medical ultrasound, carbon capture and storage, and climate change.

He believes in creating new technologies that can truly change the world. He doesn't just want to publish papers. He wants his ideas to help people and solve big problems.

For example, he has studied how human-made sounds affect sea creatures living on the seabed. These creatures are very important for keeping the ocean healthy. They can't move away from loud sounds easily, unlike whales or dolphins.

He also helped develop ways to find out which fish are most at risk from ocean noise. He even worked on using sound to guide fish away from dangerous areas. This could protect endangered fish species from being harmed by industrial activities.

Fighting Superbugs: NAMRIP and Global-NAMRIP

Global-NAMRIP is a huge team of hundreds of researchers from all over the world. They work together to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR happens when germs like bacteria become strong enough to resist medicines. This makes infections very hard to treat.

Professor Leighton explained in 2016 that if we don't find new ways to stop AMR, it could be worse than cancer by 2050. It could also cost the world a lot of money. He said that we might not be able to feed everyone if we keep relying on antibiotics for food production. Simple medical procedures could become very risky.

...Unless preventative measures are found (and no-one in the world currently knows what those will be), AMR will (through the colloquial 'rise of superbugs') by 2050 be killing more people than cancer, and cost the world economy more than the current size of the global economy. We will not be able to feed the world unless we wean our food production industry off its dependence on antibiotics; common medical procedures (minor surgery, childbirth) will become significantly more hazardous; and advances in treatments (such as those for childhood leukaemia) will become reversed.

Global-NAMRIP looks for new solutions beyond just making more antibiotics. They believe many things affect AMR, like climate change, war, and how we handle food and waste. They work with scientists, engineers, farmers, and many others to find answers.

...We need a new approach – a step change like the one antibiotics gave us when they first came in.

...In many parts of the world, climate change and flooding, war, corruption, politics, received wisdom, traditions and religious practices, and the supply of fuel and money, play a far greater role in food, water, waste treatment, healthcare and the transport of microbes from one host to another, than do the outputs of the drug companies. The twin potential catastrophes are global, and so are the causes. The solutions lie with scientists and engineers to develop new technologies and embed new practices in the public and workforce; they lie with farmers, plumbers, office workers, water and sewage workers, medical practitioners, food retailers, innovators in business … indeed most of us. And they lie with those who are responsible for shaping behaviour across the world – not just the pharmaceutical companies.

This group creates new research projects and works with companies to bring solutions to people. They also teach the public and leaders about AMR. Professor Leighton's work on this has even been mentioned in the UK Parliament.

Global-NAMRIP also helps countries with lower incomes. For example, they have projects in Ghana and Uganda. In Uganda, members from several African countries met to share ideas on fighting AMR. They even helped write the 'Kampala Declaration on AMR' for the Ugandan Minister for Health.

Understanding Ultrasound in Public Places

In 2015, Professor Leighton started a research group called Health Effects of Ultrasound in Air (HEFUA). He wanted to study how much ultrasound is used in public places. He also wanted to see if this increasing use was affecting people. This was after he found that ultrasound use was growing and safety rules were not good enough.

His 2016 report on this topic was downloaded over 20,000 times in two years. This showed how important the issue was. Now, scientists and people around the world are tracking where and what kind of devices emit ultrasound. Professor Leighton became a top expert on how ultrasound in the air affects people. He also advised on claims of unusual health issues affecting US Embassy staff in Cuba and China.

In 2018, he pointed out problems in how the health issues of those affected were studied. He showed that the tests might have made it seem like more people were sick than actually were. In 2023, a US intelligence report agreed with him. It said that it was "very unlikely" that a foreign enemy used a weapon in these incidents.

He now works with a group that helps protect people, especially children, from airborne ultrasound.

Sound in Space: Extraterrestrial Acoustics

Since the mid-2000s, Professor Leighton has worked to get more people interested in using sound to explore other planets. He has predicted what sounds might be like on other worlds. He also showed how acoustic devices could be used best in space. His work helps planetariums teach about other worlds.

He has co-hosted special sessions and written papers about acoustics in space. He was even invited to help with the Mars Perseverance and Ingenuity missions.

Whale and Dolphin Sounds: Marine Mammal Acoustics

Professor Leighton explained how humpback whales use sound when they hunt. They create "bubble nets" to trap fish. His explanation is now often used on whale watching tours. He also explained how dolphins can use their sonar (echolocation) while making bubble nets to hunt. This is tricky because the bubbles should block their sonar.

Cool Inventions and Breakthroughs

Professor Leighton has invented many things that help people in different ways.

Helping People: Medical and Healthcare Inventions

He invented systems to:

  • Find bone diseases like osteoporosis.
  • Check how well kidney stone treatments are working. This invention won an award in 2008.
  • Create needle-free injectors for people with migraines. Over 1 million of these have been sold!

He also helped the Institute of Cancer Research with technology to check how well cancer treatments are working.

He helped write the guidelines for safe ultrasound scans for babies in the womb. Two billion people have had these scans following his guidelines.

He also advised the UK government and other groups on the safety of ultrasound.

TWIPS picture 2
Comparison of standard sonar and TWIPS in finding a target in bubbly water. Adapted from

Helping Communities: Humanitarian Inventions

Professor Leighton invented:

  • Radar that can find buried explosives and hidden listening devices. It can also locate people buried in avalanches or collapsed buildings.
  • The only sonar system in the world that can find objects in bubbly water. This is important for protecting ships in conflict areas. It also helps find mines long after conflicts end.
  • Systems to find objects buried in the seabed.

He also worked with the National Oceanography Centre on a system sold by Kongsberg. This system is used for finding old shipwrecks and for civil engineering projects. He is also helping young business people in Africa find ways to get clean water from waste.

Seeps
Methodology by which active (red) and passive (yellow) sonar can be used to detect and quantify leaks from natural seeps or carbon capture and storage Facilities, taken from ref.

Protecting Our Planet: Environmental and Safety Inventions

Professor Leighton:

  • Did an experiment that showed much more carbon dioxide dissolves into the oceans than we thought. This is important for understanding climate change and ocean acidification.
  • Invented technology for environmental groups and oil companies. This technology monitors for gas leaks from undersea pipelines and natural methane seeps using sound.
  • Created a way to use sonar to check for gas leaks from carbon capture and storage sites under the sea. This was tested in big trials in the North Sea.
  • Developed systems to measure how much methane is in the seabed. Methane is a very strong greenhouse gas. Knowing how much is there and how much leaks out is key for climate change.
  • Created ways to measure how gases move between the atmosphere and the ocean. This is important for climate change models. Over 1,000 million tonnes of carbon move between the air and ocean each year.
  • His inventions help keep things safe at a huge science facility in the United States called the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Sloan Water Technology Ltd.: Cleaning with Sound and Bubbles

In the late 1980s, Professor Leighton found a new type of ultrasonic signal. He realized it came from waves on the surface of gas bubbles in liquids. This discovery led to the creation of Sloan Water Technology Ltd.

This company uses cold water, air bubbles, and sound to clean and change surfaces. This means less water and electricity are used. It also creates less pollution and helps reduce the threat of "superbugs."

Sloan Water Technology Ltd. has invented ways to clean surgical tools. They also developed ways to clean food like salad, which can't be cleaned with heat. This helps prevent serious illnesses. During the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, they created devices to clean surfaces that people touch often.

One of their most important products helps reduce suffering from chronic wounds. These wounds cause a lot of pain and cost healthcare systems a lot of money.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Professor Leighton has received many important awards and honors for his work.

Medals

  • The 2017 Clifford Paterson Lecture and Medal from the Royal Society.
  • The 2014 Rayleigh Medal from the Institute of Acoustics.
  • The 2013 Helmholtz-Rayleigh Interdisciplinary Silver Medal from the Acoustical Society of America.
  • The 2009 R W B Stephens Medal from the Institute of Acoustics.
  • The 2006 Paterson Medal from the Institute of Physics.
  • The first 2004 Early Career Medal and Award from the International Commission for Acoustics.
  • The 2002 Tyndall Medal from the Institute of Acoustics.
  • The 1994 A. B. Wood Medal from the Institute of Acoustics.

The Institute of Physics said in 2006 that Professor Leighton's work is "outstanding." They noted he is a world leader in four fields and has made over 70 new discoveries. These range from hospital devices to understanding how bubbles in the ocean affect climate.

Awards

  • 2019 Doctor of Science, University of Cambridge.
  • 2018 Royal Society's Lord Leonard and Lady Estelle Wolfson Foundation Translation Award for the StarHealer.
  • The 2014 'Best new product of the year' award for StarStream.
  • The 2012 Institute of Chemical Engineering Award for Water Management and Supply.
  • The 2011 Royal Society Brian Mercer Award for Innovation.
  • The 2008 'Medical & Healthcare' award from 'The Engineer'.
  • The first 2001 International Medwin Prize for Acoustical Oceanography from the Acoustical Society of America.

Fellowships

Professor Leighton is a member of three national science academies. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 2014. This honor recognized his research on the physics of bubbles and his many inventions. These include tools for detecting diseases and new sonar systems.

In 2018, he became a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. This was for using physical science to help patients. They noted his leadership in acoustic bubbles and how his book, The Acoustic Bubble, became a key reference.

He was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng) in 2012 for his contributions to engineering. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, the Institute of Acoustics, and the Acoustical Society of America.

In 2018, he was the first person to be named a "Distinguished Fellow" by the International Institute of Acoustics and Vibration. This is the highest honor from this international group.

Sharing Science: Outreach and Media Work

Professor Leighton has created many award-winning activities to share science with the public. He encourages young people to get involved in science and engineering. He visits schools, attends science fairs, and creates exhibits and games. He has also appeared on TV and radio.

His public engagement work includes a game he designed called “The most dangerous game in the world.” This game teaches people about "superbugs" and how to protect themselves. This work was even mentioned in the UK Parliament. The broadcaster Trevor Cox described Professor Leighton as 'a middle-aged Harry Potter' in his 2014 book 'Sonic Wonderland'.

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