The strongest stuff in the Universe

Unexpected Elements

BBC

Science

4.4 • 565 Ratings

🗓️ 10 October 2025

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Egyptian strongman Ashraf Mahrous recently pulled two ships totalling 1,150 tonnes with his teeth, setting his sights on the Guinness World Record. Inspired by this story, this week we’re tackling the science of all things strong.

First, we find out about new research that could keep our muscles strong as we age. Next up, we discover why graphene is so strong and how it could help improve data storage.

We're then joined down the line by Dr Matt Caplan, an astrophysicist from Illinois State University, who tells us about his search for a weird substance called ‘nuclear pasta’. And no, you won’t find it in your local Italian restaurant.

Plus, find out how robo-exoskeletons can help you climb hills and why Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance was weaker than expected. All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Kai Kupferschmidt and Andrada Fiscutean Producers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Robbie Wojciechowski and Lucy Davies

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts.
0:07.0	In 2019, we began investigating the disappearance of Dr. Ruzha Ignatva.
0:14.0	I believe we are a very special network.
0:16.0	A scammer who stole billions from investors around the world.
0:21.4	She's on the FBI's 10 most wanted list.
0:24.5	And now we have some unmissable updates.
0:27.8	She has money and when you have money, you have power.
0:30.6	Join me, Jamie Bartlett, as the hunt for the missing crypto queen continues.
0:35.5	Listen first on BBC Sounds.
0:40.0	During the First World War, Seat Chabuk, an army gunner from what is now Turkey, became famous for mid-battle and under fire carrying bombshells that weighed 276 kilograms. That's about £600 to an enormous artillery gun.
0:59.7	That's the weight of a grand piano, or three adult male gorillas. We're talking huge, heavy shells,
1:06.3	one of which sunk a British ship, HMS Ocean. After the war, he was hailed as a Turkish hero,
1:14.1	and the press asked to photograph him with the bombshells.
1:18.0	But the corporal could no longer replicate his carrying feet.
1:22.3	He looked down at the shells and apparently exclaimed,
1:24.7	If war breaks out again, are lifted again.
1:28.9	I'm Marnie Chasterton from the BBC World Service. This is unexpected elements.
2:01.8	Now, my... Now my personal best is about 60 kilograms, but that's not nearly enough. There is strength in numbers, though. Joining me today are two global science journalists in Berlin, Germany. Hello, Kai Kui Kupershmit. Hello, Mani, live grishaus In Berlin, Germany, hello, Kuykoy Kupershmit.
2:03.7	Hello, Mani, live with us, Berlin.
2:07.7	And in Bucharest, Romania, hello, Andrade Fiskatan.
2:08.8	Bunamani.
2:10.3	Okay, I've got to ask you both.
	...

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