Rice University Athletics: Two Years of Oxygen Nanobubble Recovery
How a Division I sports-medicine program moved 80–90% of its athletes off cold tubs — voluntarily.
Rice University's athletic department has operated a Bimini NanoJet system for over two years across its varsity programs. In that time, 80 to 90 percent of Rice athletes voluntarily switched from cold tubs to the Bimini, and a peer-reviewed study of 100+ collegiate athletes measured 43–46% improvements in performance and recovery metrics.
Built for procurement — attach it to a budget request.
- Institution
- Rice University — NCAA Division I
- Department
- Sports Medicine & Performance
- System
- Bimini NanoJet, commercial (sold today as the NanoJet Pro)
- In service
- 2+ years
- Adoption
- 80–90% of athletes switched from cold tubs
- Research cohort
- 100+ collegiate athletes, peer-reviewed
The problem: recovery athletes avoid
Every athletic trainer knows the pattern. The cold tubs are installed, the protocol is posted, and the athletes find reasons not to get in. Cold-water immersion works only when it happens — and self-selected avoidance is the quiet failure mode of cold-based recovery programs.
A Division I sports-medicine department runs recovery at scale: hundreds of athletes, tight training windows, and a modality that most of them dread. Compliance — not equipment — was the constraint.
The deployment
Rice University became the first collegiate program to adopt the Bimini NanoJet commercial system, running it in the training facility alongside its existing cold tubs. No plumbing modification was required — the system saturates a standard training-room whirlpool with oxygen nanobubbles at 95%+ purity, 28 ppm dissolved oxygen, and treats multiple athletes per session at 78–100°F.
Critically, the cold tubs stayed. Athletes were free to choose either modality. What happened next is the entire case study.
The outcomes
Over two-plus years of operation, 80 to 90 percent of Rice athletes moved from the cold tubs to the Bimini — with no mandate from staff. A warm 30–60 minute soak turned recovery from a compliance problem into something athletes schedule themselves.
“We've had the Bimini NanoJet for over 2 years now and can't imagine our facilities without it. 80-90% of our athletes have switched from using our cold tubs to now using the Bimini.”
The research: peer-reviewed study, 100+ collegiate athletes
Alongside operational adoption, a peer-reviewed study conducted at Rice University tested the Bimini NanoJet on more than 100 collegiate athletes, with improvements measured 1 to 24 hours after treatment — most dramatic in the first hours post-session.
Improvement in performance and recovery metrics
Muscle oxygen saturation (SmO₂) increase
Window of measured post-treatment improvement
Oxygen toxicity observed at any level
"The final conclusion of the studies using the Bimini NanoJet Perfusion System: it increases performance of the athlete, drastically improves muscle recovery, and improves mental clarity."Full study findings on the Science page →
For procurement: what replicating this requires
Bimini NanoJet Pro — $24,995, quote-based purchase with volume pricing for multi-unit orders.
A whirlpool or hot tub the facility already owns, holding up to 5 people. The tub is not included; no plumbing modification is needed.
110V or 220V power. The unit itself is 20″ × 15″ × 10″ and 20 lbs.
3-year commercial warranty, free shipping, 30-day returns.
One consumable: a $463 nitrogen filter sieve on a usage-dependent replacement interval.
Facilities without a suitable tub: the NanoJet All-In ($34,995) includes a premium commercial tub and professional installation.
Questions facilities ask
What system does Rice University use?+
Rice University operates the Bimini NanoJet commercial oxygen nanobubble system in its athletic training facility — the same system sold today as the NanoJet Pro ($24,995). It saturates an existing training-room whirlpool with oxygen nanobubbles and treats multiple athletes per session with no plumbing modification.
How were the results measured?+
A peer-reviewed study conducted at Rice University tested the Bimini NanoJet on more than 100 collegiate athletes. Researchers measured 43–46% improvements in performance and recovery metrics and muscle oxygen saturation rising from roughly 50% to above 90%, with effects observed 1 to 24 hours after treatment and no oxygen toxicity at any level.
Why did athletes switch from cold tubs?+
Adoption was voluntary — Rice kept its cold tubs and let athletes choose. A Bimini session is a warm 30–60 minute soak rather than 2–11 minutes of cold shock, and over two years 80–90% of athletes moved to the Bimini on their own. Compliance, not equipment, is what changed.
Can my facility replicate this?+
Yes, if you have a whirlpool or hot tub holding up to five people: the NanoJet Pro connects to it with no plumbing modification and runs on 110V or 220V. Facilities without a suitable tub can use the NanoJet All-In, which includes a commercial tub and professional installation. Quotes are provided on request.
Run the same system Rice runs
The NanoJet Pro connects to the whirlpool your facility already owns. Quotes within 24 hours.