How Much Weight Can a Bridge Made of Toothpicks Hold?

Engineering seeks solutions to technical problems, ideally in the most economical and straightforward way possible. It applies scientific principles to evaluate issues and implement a remedy. The question posed to engineering students at Miguel Hernández University (UMH) in Elche is quite simple: How much weight could a bridge made solely of ice cream sticks glued with white glue support?

This is the challenge students have faced for twenty years. There are no other rules. The shape or size does not matter. However, there are three categories: Aesthetics, Mobility, and Weight. Of course, the latter is the most significant. Observing how many kilos this seemingly fragile structure can bear is, to say the least, surprising.

This year's question has already been answered: 1,156 kilos. This weight was supported by two models: El Chulo and Drakupuente, each winning a prize of 700 euros. Ángel Soler, a student of the Degree in Electrical Engineering, is the creator of El Chulo, while Daniel Gómez, Pedro Jesús Nicolás, Guillermo Rodríguez, and Raúl Leonte, students of the Degree in Mechanical Engineering, are behind Drakupuente.

Meanwhile, the third prize in the Weight category, awarded 250 euros, went to UMH Mechanical Engineering students Javier Alonso, José Toledo, and Francisco Molina. Their model, titled Aníbal Barca, withstood a total of 508kg.

In the Mobility category, the first and only prize, worth 600 euros, was awarded to UMH Electrical Engineering students Christian Fernández and Jorge Giménez for their model Célula Procariota.

In the Aesthetics category, the winner was the Nexus bridge, created by students from the Degrees in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences and Psychology, Sergio Garrido, Natividad Blasco, and Carla Selva, who received 600 euros. The second prize, worth 350 euros, went to the Pont Sec model, crafted by Fine Arts students Brenda Asensio and Alejandra Viudes. Finally, the third prize, worth 150 euros, was awarded to Physiotherapy student Mario Durá for his model El camino del Cid.