Explained: Starlite

The intriguing story and mystery behind Starlite and it's creator, Maurice Ward.
Sorry this took a while, I took time making sure it was my best yet.
Maurice Interview:- www.stevenrineh...
Starlite KZbin channel:- / mauricewardstarlite
SOURCES:
www.newscienti...
isciencemag.co....
www.gov.uk/aai...
www.theverge.co...
mauricewardstar...
www.stevenrineh...
MUSIC:
"Mesmerize" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons...
Canon in D Major Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons...
Curtain effect by AA VFX - / @aavfx
By NASA Goddard Space Flight Center from Greenbelt, MD, USA - NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, CC BY 2.0, commons.wikime...
By Sonia Sevilla - Own work, CC0, commons.wikime...
By Eugene Pivovarov - Own work, CC BY 3.0, commons.wikime...
By Pedro Aragão - CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikime...

[@genobreaker1054]

"Invented a material to save lives." "Kept it to himself and doesn't save anyone."

[@nathanb3273]

I know right, what a tool

[@nathanb3273]

@Omega2064 he could have gone about it a lot differently, hopefully his family knows the process in making it 👍

[@nathanb3273]

@Omega2064 yeah Roman concrete being one of them

[@chatboss000]

@@nathanb3273 Actually, roman concrete got solved. They used SEAWATER. Historians were just so dense they assumed by "water" in documents, that they meant "fresh water". It's an entertaining issue that still could happen again in the future. (for example, recipes call for X amount of eggs, but they never specify chicken eggs.)

[@nathanb3273]

@@chatboss000 that actually makes a lot of sense, I'll look into that. Thanks chat boss. Every day's a school day 😊👍

[@brentdennard6722]

My father is the plant operations manager at a sawmill with gas and sawdust fueled furnaces to dry the lumber (called a dry kiln).... A few years ago, a sales person came by with a demonstration of a brass strip approx 1" by 4", painted on one side on one half of the length with a white material. The strip was held in hand while being heated for over a minute with a propane torch, until the white paint was glowing red. He then used an infrared thermometer, and touching to the skin to show that the backside of the strip where painted was barely above ambient temperature. I will try to find out the company and product name, but apparently Maurice Wards invention was indeed commercialized, as salespersons are going around to industrial facilities to try and sell it today.

[@albireocygnus7264]

Did you find out the company and the product? It's been 5 months since then and I would love to know.

[@TheGrinningViking]

Thermashield 👍🏽

[@albireocygnus7264]

@@TheGrinningViking Hey there! Thanks for the help! People should know it more, so appreciates your help (even though it takes 2 months to get such a reply) 😄👍

[@MyCrafcik]

there's loads of diffrent insulators, doesn't have to be starlite.

[@preclued6492]

So you're saying the only qualifications I need to become a materials engineer and defense contractor are 15 years of hairstyling experience and a stint as a forklift driver? Sweet. Terrific video as always, well worth the wait! Keep it up :)

[@Zepherus]

Glad you like it - there is probably a bit of luck involved too. :D

[@carolynmmitchell2240]

You just have the right mind for it, many of the greatest minds in history didn't finish school..

[@brandonneldo112]

these informative videos are the best thing on KZbin, I greatly respect people who share interesting points in history like this. (even if it might just be theory)

[@Zepherus]

Glad you like them!

[@TheJo13425]

Your videos are getting so much better, your editing and your voice over have both improved dramatically in the few moths that I have been subscribed to your channel

[@Zepherus]

Well, thank you! Hopefully I will continue to improve.

[@ApaceLp]

Wow, your videos just keep getting better and better. Keep up the work! BTW how did you come across this topic?

[@Zepherus]

Internet browsing.

[@zzanzare]

Starlite is just corn starch, baking soda and glue mixed together. That's why he didn't want to tell anyone, because it's so simple anyone can do it at home and any business is doomed in advance. Also by patenting it he would have to publish the formula, again negating any business opportunity. See here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6K1ZZKLpKd8sLs

[@danielhadjicostas2731]

I think the reason Maurice didn't ever sell or patent his material, has something to do with the simplicity of his recipe. I know pretty much nothing about patenting, but I have a feeling that if you just mixed corn starch, water, flour, etc together and it made 'starlite' it wouldn't be possible to patent it? Someone feel free to correct me or point me in the right direction.

[@ZiggyzWurld357]

Since most of your viewers seem to not know what that is, oh man that cracked me up!! Definitely considering subscribing after seeing just this video, you've touched my cynical heart my new friend!!

[@LostieTrekieTechie]

And a CD reference, really cool, I'm surprised I only just found your quality channel.

[@Malandirix]

Plane Crash Corner. Nice reference!

[@ArmyGrunt1986]

Hello Internet and Captain Disillusion reference

[@Blewlongmun]

I like to think of him knowing hes going to die soon and trying to destroy the samples and just freaking out because they won't burn.

[@DarkestVampire92]

Scenario 3, Maurice was an alien, and his death was followed by his civilization mind-wiping everyone involved as well as taking each and every sample with them.

[@Wolfdaze]

Just watched a video where a guy made it. Super simple, which is why he didnt want to leave samples. Glue, baking soda, and baking powder I think.

[@CosmeFulanito476]

came to post this

[@randomnobody660]

except, we shall never know if that is the same formula. I can't fathom how some people missed the disclaimer in the title, description, and video itself. Obviously like the guy stated, his formula works better when dried, but the egg was slightly cooked in his demonstration. You can see a bit of white falling out of the shells after a shorter amount of time.

[@mikeyharris2999]

So simple you can’t seem to remember the three ingredients?....

[@blackbirght]

10 000C sounds way too much, currently there isnt anything thats even remotely close to withstanding such a temperature and thats without the insulation properties that this material had

[@Sesamestreet9080]

There is some documents proving this is true. I think it was the British

[@SteelCreepZ]

Great video man, i think you will grow big here on youtube

[@BoogiemanXXL]

I've seen this video a few times for a paper that I'm writing for university and I just now noticed the CaptainDissilusion homage...

[@kainebishop9791]

The flame never touched the second egg and someone ran in and painted it brown on one side when the camera panned across the room for no reason.

[@emerywalling9030]

I found some Boeing reports on starlite

[@traviswrigg5158]

9:55 But seriously, that video has huge horrible inaccuracies and I feel guilty for spreading them - if you are going to use one of my videos to educate, check the facts are correct first That's what it says

[@etle113]

Looks like a regular intumescent coating to me. This stuff is used since the 50's as an additive in paints and other coatings to make them fire resistant.

[@Tokiwartoothfrfr]

aye it's the mighty Nail & Gear. Zepherus I'm glad you're a Tim.

[@rdbchase]

Videos are not experiments; conspiracy-think is not analysis. Since materials with similar properties can be made from household substances easily, some evidence more substantive than a clip from a TV show that Starlite was extraordinary should exist, or the subject is pointless to pursue.

[@tttpppbbbaaa]

The black layer that was on starlight is most likely a black carbon and carbon is almost a perfect black body so it radiates all it energy becomes cool to touch.

[@darellroasa6846]

smart creativity. i was entertained. this video is an art.

[@purpleom9649]

I use to live near to Maurice, he was my father's friend, we often saw each other after my father passed. I have quite a large collection of Starlite bits from back then, it still works after all these years, friends are often amazed when I use a blowtorch on my hand with only a thin layer of starlite for protection.

[@GRAITOM]

Purple Om can you please call or text me at 4847073662

[@olyk4601]

......really?

[@Slideyslide]

It’s hard to believe when people post things like this. If it’s true though you should post a video and then have it chemically tested. You could be sitting on a potential gold mine.

[@AAhmou]

Michael James Somebody did it. Somebody found a partial formula for starlite and created his own before posting it on KZbin. Did anybody care? NO. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqXRpYGFnr6WkLc

[@Bruceboot]

Sure

[@joespawldin7833]

Somebody made a variant of this with similar results. Used corn starch baking soda and wight glue. If he could make a functional sample with such common ingredients then it is entirely plausible that starlite actually existed. And we know all to well how both businesses and governments can be about revolutionary materials. And also can have the opposite response if it's something cheap and easy that can vastly improve millions of lives. Just look at this used in houses. Fire insurance would be nearly obsolete and houses wouldn't be as vulnerable and therefore last longer. Longer lasting houses are harder to replace and this means realistate makes less money. It's shitty but sadly how it works.

[@chriscastor4660]

You need to watch more of the videos On Starlite. They show his daughter on interview knowing the recipe and him even mixing it together along with his daughter

[@ruddud8719]

Nighthawkinlight just made a video about this stuff. He made it out of baking soda, glue and cornstarch and it seemed to be very similar

[@blackisback74]

It's a shame Maurice was so greedy of wanting 51% on his invention resulting in his death and his invention lost forever.

[@samsonian]

I would guess the MoD broke into his lab as soon as they found out about it, took a sample and back engineered it after testing it in a mass spectrometer. The question is exactly they were using the substance for, as there not being any record of the recipe and no patents there is no barrier to the UK selling it under a different name. My guess is it is used for very high-energy stuff solely that involves top-level military application. If you can protect against 20000 degrees (F) then you no longer need magnetic isolation.

[@Jwynne_]

Morris’s family knows the formula and he has a daughter so it’s not lost but rather a well kept secret as Far as we know.

[@sietzevandeburgt681]

Well a nice insulation for a starship since it glows red hot once it comes back and could use a kind of protection maybe inside an emergency fire extinguishers use producing it on spot ?

[@caseydeshazo679]

A product that can not decompose, disintegrate or recycle can be potentially dangerous on many levels. I could see Bowing offering a promise to use it only on the airliners and re-using the plastic parts for new builds just to be turned down for the low-balling offer. NASA would also do the same but after research abandon the project as it would only cause more issues with debris in space like the paint chips flying at 1,000 miles an hour around our planet's atmosphere. At least the shielding parts to protect from fire are semi decomposable. On top of all this i think that the process to make a partial-plastic from Hair care treatment products (wink, wink) would be even more destructive then the product itself. Anyway the secret was out and everyone used similar substances until non decomposable materials were filling our land fills. Cretain products still have the makeup and are still in our fills to this day... find them and you might see why.

[@tnerbtnerb5136]

Given the track record of both the Ministry of Defense and the U.S's Dept. of Defense in terms of seizing small inventor's IP in the name of National Security and keeping the MI Complex on track...yeah scenario 2 is hardly unfeasible.

[@noahpoops7140]

Corn starch with baking soda one tenth of the starch roughly and Elmer's glue to texture desired is reached.

[@fallenseraph5V]

I’d like to know is what classified material is used on Airforce 1 that repels radiation, combine it with Starlite, build a ship and move to a planet without greedy bastards.

[@Killerean]

It wasn't a hoax. This material was re-created: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6K1ZZKLpKd8sLs Potential materials you could use: Corn starch (source of carbon) Baking soda (about 10% of corn starch amount, to generate carbon foam) Glue. Mix these together thourougly until you have putty, coat a material and there you go.

[@franciszhao6923]

He was either greedy or a liar. And until new information surfaces that is how the world will see him.

[@ShutUpYoFace]

the daughter claimed she knows it... she talked about putting it paint & selling it.

[@integza]

I see you're also a fellow admirer of Caption Disillusion

[@joshuanelson4559]

Researching?

[@Mugib]

Hehe ahh yeah you're right

[@NoriMori1992]

"Caption"

[@jakekenslow3138]

"its not like he could just burn them all"

[@KevinSiebert]

I mean... that's why it was invented...

[@ProfessorSyndicateFranklai]

Tests did say a 10 year old sample could burn easily too

[@bradlemmond]

@@ProfessorSyndicateFranklai Or, that's what they want you to think!

[@boriskljaic5161]

maybe he froze it

[@logansiemer286]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6K1ZZKLpKd8sLs

[@ventac]

3rd option - He made starlite using commercially available materials that were already patented and therefore couldn't patent it himself. Let's say, for instance, that his formula contained named products like Elmer's glue and Heinz 57 sauce and it's the chemical interactions between those 2 named products that created Starlite. He would not have been able to patent his "invention" without first owning the patents to both Elmer's glue and Heinz 57, or at the very least having both companies agree to allow him to use their patents. Being a hairdresser and playing with products and chemicals all day led him to create an amazing material but one who's chemistry he could never own and therefore never monetize.

[@rufarokembo]

I believe this is it

[@obscureinterest4319]

he would have just had to figured out which chemicals were reacting and ni longer would have had to use the patented products. this is unlikely.

[@Resologist]

Elmer's glue and Heinz 57 sauce are little else than recipes, which cannot be patented. Coca-Cola and KFC have capitalized on their "secret" recipes, quite successfully, but, these products cannot be protected, with exclusive rights, once revealed. His formula produced an insulating carbon foam with limited uses, (which has been done before); but, without a novel process, nor an understanding of its chemistry, he could only sell his own hype about it.

[@horusreloaded6387]

You can patent your ideas even if it needs other patents.

[@ventac]

@@horusreloaded6387 Not without permission. That's the point of a patent and more than likely the reason he never revealed the starlite recipe.

[@Wendoverproductions]

Damn I'm so early they're only 360 p's

[@WonderProductions]

lol when you see it on phone notifications so you know to watch it right away. Anyway love your content also cheers!

[@Zepherus]

Oh hey, great to see you here! Hope you enjoy the video.

[@MagnificentSpeed]

p's?

[@Wendoverproductions]

Make more videos

[@dannya5690]

Wendover Productions YOOOO!! Love your videos!

[@9HighFlyer9]

"It's not like he could quickly burn them all" I spit tea all over when I heard that.

[@Zepherus]

I hope your keyboard is okay. Glad you liked the joke.

[@razer192]

HighFlyer no you didn't

[@wintersymphony343]

HighFlyer I

[@allanrichardson1468]

Unless Starlite had a specific vulnerability, or chemical "Achilles' Heel," that could be used to remove or destroy it. Like gold, which only dissolves in aqua regia.

[@theCodyReeder]

Looks rather similar to Teflon.

[@Handle423]

Well, do you think that teflon may be part of the recipe?

[@MrSysdump]

@@Handle423 Could be the raw sample shown on TV looks like teflon flakes. Teflon does have a high melting point at 620 F so its possible. And he was working in creating a plastic that could withstand the heat so highly possible if this is real that it did contain teflon. But i have also heard that it was supposedly a ceramic. Although i guess you could incorporate teflon into a ceramic.

[@joshua.snyder]

Pretty cool, eh Cody? I'd love to line it in my company's plasma arc furnace!

[@MrSysdump]

@@joshua.snyder I had no idea that was cody when i made my reply lol. I done some digging and it seemed people who done any testing on it say when it was under high heat it turned into a carbon foam and expanded to push the heat away could give some insight to how it was made if it was not a hoax. Also someone who done testing said you could put your hand right on it and it wouldn't burn you after delivering 1200f heat.

[@rajgill7576]

Hey cody do some stuff with fireproofing!

[@littlebacchus216]

Most horrifying part of this is. I watched that episode of tomorrow's world when it was broadcast... I'm so old.

[@RB-qg1qx]

Same here......way past best before date

[@barupens8141]

hey guys u still alive?

[@NigelTolley]

@@barupens8141 I am, and I remember it well. I've got it written down in a note book to buy some! Long before he died, that was.

[@joefish6091]

Its was broadcast on April first too, that doomed the invention to be considered a TW prank.

[@OneForTheSouth]

I saw Maurice Ward when I was about 7 years old. In second grade (1987) he came to our elementary school and did a demonstration on Starlite. One of the things I remember is that he did the demonstration with the egg and the torch and he mentioned that his granddaughter had named the substance Starlite. She was there with him at the time. I'd guess she'd be about my age (38 now). I always wondered why something so revolutionary didn't end up in fire gear for firemen, as I ended up as a volunteer fire-fighter when I was 16 and never forgot the presentation Maurice gave when I was a kid.

[@getawayyy1105]

But can it survive a 1000 degree knife?!

[@Furko08]

Zepherus ...not

[@Marc83Aus]

No, a room temperature knife cut right through that egg.

[@Kramlets]

No. It's only impenetrable to heat not a sharp object like a knife.

[@jonathanallard2128]

I was gonna like the OP comment, but there's 333 likes and I don't wanna break up that beautiful number!

[@amandaclaire-i4]

Does it matter? It could be coated over a hard surface like metal, rather than an egg.

[@darkreaper300]

I just watched a video from nighthawk making a Starlite like material and explains how it probably works. he doesn't claim it's the exact formula but close-ish.

[@DomWPC]

same xD

[@Hexfury]

Lol, I saved a copy of that video in the event that it's real, I'm replicating the experiment sometime next week, here's hoping I'm not getting trolled.

[@Chris47368]

@@Hexfury i have tested his formula using flour instead of cornstarch though,and atleast in dough form it does pretty well but im currently trying to dry some out to test when its dry. I too have seen how resilient carbon foam from burnt sugar is to heat but i guess i have not put its use potential together till i saw nighthawks video.....

[@0rangeade1]

@@Chris47368 Please upload videos of your tests!

[@ricardotyhssen735]

@@Chris47368 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnS1ZmCjp9GBfrc

[@rin_etoware_2989]

There's a pretty recent claim that Starlite's formula-really, Maurice's notes and lab-was acquired by Thermashield LLC. They said the problem was that it's a real finicky formula, and it's taking a real long while before it can be turned into a marketable product. I assume what happened is that while Maurice discovered it, he really didn't understand how the raw materials actually interact to do what Starlite does. Without prior knowledge of the stuff he's working with, he definitely won't have a clue on how to make it in industrial or even practical quantities. Really, for a long time Starlite is like the Fallout 4 of materials science: *it just works.*

[@xarin42]

They straight up confirm on their website that they "purchased and have since updated Maurice Ward’s (the material’s inventor) original formula to today’s material availability and created new ones, while retaining the invention’s remarkable high-temperature resistance characteristic"

[@The1Helleri]

Aerogel can do that and more. We even have strengthened opaque Aerogel now. The problem with it is that it is resource intensive to make not all that much of it. So it's a very expensive material. If someone can work out the figurative Bessemer process for Aerogel (Being able to cheaply, effectively, and quickly mass produce it). It's application would leave starlite in the dust.

[@Psychshifted]

@David Parry have you seen areogell?

[@copiouscoos]

David Parry haha, no. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6K1ZZKLpKd8sLs

[@bluewater454]

I just saw someone recreate a similar substance with household materials. Freaking amazing.

[@lucid_sound_design]

Another big disadvantage of aerogels is their brittleness. Starlite was flexible and could be spread almost as play doh, while aerogels are fairly thick and have to be on a flat plane

[@EnglishLaw]

Aerogel is crap. Use your own cheap starlight mix. Corn starch, then 10% baking soda. Mix in PVA glue until a putty. Flatten, press twist around anything. Allow it to dry for a while before flames since the thermal conductive nature of the glue before drying will affect it slightly. You are welcome.

[@UselessDuckCompany]

This was a fascinating video. Awesome work! This is my first time hearing of Starlite.

[@lex8942]

You don't know how much I appreciate your videos m8. Also congratulations in advance on 100k

[@Zepherus]

Well, I'm glad you like them.

[@enb3810]

ThisCarmella your*

[@slayerofmidgets3201]

Eric Bowling another spelling nazi

[@crigger]

NIGGA WE MADE IT

[@TheOysterjam]

but i'm not a grammar nazi and don't give 2 shits how someone conveys useful information. it's the people that think they're better than everyone else, mumble nonsense, and contribute no value to society that irk me

[@MatthewCobalt]

After years of speculation, it would seem more likely that the invention was real and was some of the most easily reproducible materials on the market right now. The concept of Starlite is way older than the experiments done by Maurice, as such his idea would have most likely been difficult to sell as the concept itself is public domain.

[@johnnyappleseed5753]

Zepherus, I've been around since like 10k and wow. Your editing has vastly improved, you don't stutter or misspeak anymore, and that picture in picture editing there was downright impressive. You've taken all the constructive criticism given to you and ran with it, your channel is on par with anyone else in the explanation business. Keep it up dude, you'll be at 1mil in no time ;)

[@Zepherus]

I still think my stuff is meh - there's still much more room for improvement.

[@johnnyappleseed5753]

There always is! I'm excited to see where you take the channel

[@ZeroAbsolute21]

Btw, since this video is about lost technology, you could do one with "Jan Sloot" about data compression that was also lost since this reminded me about it too.

[@penguin20101000]

yes, he's as interesting as ever but far smoother and more professional.

[@joelights6476]

Way to take a compliment ;-P

[@bryceshaddix9179]

Zepherus is a Tim!

[@johngarcia1140]

" .. useful applications .." , while showing a tank and war images .

[@this_is_japes7409]

about a year later another youtube inventor figured it out, well at least partially.

[@damianoferrario4330]

do you know who he/she was? i'd like to see the videos :)

[@paulopaldo2767]

@@damianoferrario4330 nighthawkinlight if you still dont know

[@koala5992]

Never clicked a video so fast.

[@Zepherus]

Never made a video so slow.

[@koala5992]

Zepherus The wait was worth it.

[@Telsion]

Zepherus savage

[@malex2077]

AH! First H.I and then telsion, who shrunk youtube?!?

[@Telsion]

search some more and find me a multitude :)

[@leotard2536]

382 likes 0 dislikes Maybe you should up your uploads to gain a larger fanbase... I love your videos!

[@Zepherus]

Maybe I should, but they usually take long because I spend time working on them.

[@leotard2536]

Yeah I can tell! Keep up the good work!

[@blandragny9152]

Upload MOAR videos!!!!!! Do something creepy.

[@MCNarret]

Heat goes somewhere, it must be sublimating with extreme efficiency. Plastic is made out of polymers... So it must be made out of polymers that sublimate with extreme efficiency and some sort of heat conductor. So the heat spreads put fast enough to sublimate... But that would still not work (egg)... It must have a sharp cut-off in the sublimation temperature of idk 70 degrees.

[@MrBilld75]

It does sublimate with extreme efficiency. A KZbinr made something similar, using very simple ingredients. Check it out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6K1ZZKLpKd8sLs

[@joekc1nko644]

The burning of it or at least nighthawkinglight produces a carbon foam (I definitely spelt the name wrong)

[@Sup3rman1c]

No you twat, do you know how insulation works? monogoloid

[@BungieStudios]

*But will it blend? That is the question.* **Inhales** *Whew. Starlite dust. Don't breathe this!*

[@jamiekrutzfeldt3522]

sounds like a new fancy drug

[@danker7680]

@@jamiekrutzfeldt3522 Hey little boy,Want some starlite dust?

[@tehhotline4225]

How vintage

[@andrewmoreno9414]

Love this reference

[@godatlas]

Flew past 50k and you're almost at 100k. Your channel has really blown up from where it once was at 1.7k. Glad to see it, can't think of a more deserving youtuber. Keep making great content

[@Zepherus]

Thanks man.

[@soggymammoth4864]

Hey Zepherus, can you become a robot and output 20 videos a day. Thanks, I will be waiting for them tomorrow.

[@whh2000]

Brady would be very proud!

[@Zepherus]

I honestly would hope so.

[@hungryhedgehog4201]

"imaginewhat it could be used for" *shows tank* yeah I wonder why he might've been hesitant to give it to the british empire...

[@AverageAlien]

What empire?

[@TommyD2ful]

how can starlit be real if our eyes aren't real?

[@Zepherus]

Most Wards Are Blue.

[@mandatethis8024]

My shirt is wrinkled, ..............or IS it?

[@heavycurrent7462]

Jaden pls

[@unflexian]

You Forgot To Capitalize Every Word You Intelligent Baby

[@mossfoster5317]

I swear Zepherus makes the best videos on youtube.

[@Zepherus]

Why thank you!

[@mossfoster5317]

You're welcome :)

[@user-dx4rx3bt2l]

Your videos are some of the most entertaining I've ever seen on youtube. Thank you so much for making them.

[@Zepherus]

Hey, no problem, I enjoy making them for the most part.

[@WonderProductions]

Your finally back man, I have been waiting for this moment for along time. Now lets watch this masterpiece. Cheers!

[@naota3k]

Captain Disillusion reference?

[@Zepherus]

Of course.

[@LeeeHack]

@@Zepherus You should also put a reference to him in the videos description (like if anybody would read those) if you're "borrowing" his gear for the video ;)

[@bryceowen]

@@LeeeHack It wouldn't be an Easter Egg if he outright advertised it in the description. Besides, the Captain is doing well enough on his own.

[@ITpanda]

I have a sample that was given to me when an uncle passed. It still works (sorta) due to picking up carbon from the torches used on it over time and it extremely solid internal structure it's now full of microscopic diamond dust which transfers and retains the heat a good bit. I've considered giving it to someone to try and reverse engineer it but it's not likely to work and I would lose my sample.

[@harriehausenman8623]

Very subtle CD reference :-) Long live the Captain!

[@winkcla]

I only noticed the reference now! I didn't know about Captain Disillusion when I first discovered Zepherus. Two underrated channels, glad CD gained a lot of popularity since, Zepherus turn now :)

[@TheDMG45]

The theory I find most plausible is that while it is real, it isn't actually as miraculous as it seems and there actually are no practical applications due to there being no way to make a long lasting coating. There are many useful sounding things that can be demonstrated in a lab experiment that unfortunately can't be made practically useful - if it fundamentally relied on a compound that degrades and loses the heat resistant properties within weeks or months of application that's eliminating a lot of defense, aerospace and engineering uses of such a material. He understandably wanted to retain final ownership of such a technology. After all, if it did turn out to be a miracle material after all, why should Boeing or whichever other company solely benefit from controlling it? Combined with the apparent lack of potential and therefore presumably poorer offers than he wanted, a deal was simply never reached and it died with him.

[@AAhmou]

That's what I heard too.

[@NeonSloaney]

It has some defense applications but the commercial ones sure if the substance is like that then it's not great for that. I'm sure the aerospace and defense applications are substantial enough to have it as something you'd want to use and have.

[@josecolon2717]

TheDMG45 the only application I can think of is to act as a heat shielding, most high temperature heat shields are ablative and degrade fast anyway, so this is a reasonable replacement if it can take re entry heating

[@reinistrasuns4953]

1) The material must be found somewhere, so it must be possible to do chemical analysis in order to recreate it. 2) If the material degenerates so fast that it is already disintegrated, it could be used in food industry as alternative to plastics 3) All meterials are improveable. Many practical applications could be made from this material of only its basic composition would be known.

[@eNodeTG]

Reinis Trasūns - 1) Yes, every theoretical material must be found somewhere, no matter how impossible sounding. If only more chemical analysis was done? Scientists are so lazy. 2) Just because a material loses it's thermal properties and is easily destroyed by high temperatures after a period of time does not make it an environmental friendly alternative to plastics, or food safe; more likely, if there were any truth to this story, quite the opposite. 3) ALL materials are improvable? Is that so? None out there we have realized to their practical full potential based upon their composition and chemical limitations therein? There are not labs around the world heavily investing in research in materials science with some of the most brilliant minds on the planet and enormous budgets to push the limits of what is possible?

[@pom8323]

Haven't heard about plane crash corner for a really long time, thx Brady lite. Btw great video.

[@rangarolls6018]

Haven't heard of plane crash corner in about 14 months

[@HamIAm]

Amazing video Zepherus. The effort put into this one is very noticeable, most definitely one of my favorites of yours. You always have the most interesting topics to discuss, most of which I have never heard of!That's why I love this channel, always happy to see you upload. :) Congratz on 100,000 subs man, I discovered this channel back when you were still under the radar, and it's so cool to see you getting the recognition you deserve. Keep it up :)

[@Zepherus]

Glad you liked my video - it's a big compliment. Thanks also for the congratulations, even though it looks like I might not be hitting it so soon after all.

[@Ty_N_KC]

Some dude just released a KZbin video explaining this and shows the egg test etc. Search starlite to see the video. Its starch, baking powder and white school glue!!

[@justincarnes1553]

“You thought you’d found a video where I don’t talk about the horrific death of hundreds of people, that’s a funny joke” subscribed right there

[@chipfriday8166]

History of the invention of the intermittent windshield wiper and Ford, GM and Chrysler explains exactly what this inventor was trying to avoid.

[@siegmundeurades5753]

Did captain dissolution sneak his logo into the video. Or is it just me?

[@Zepherus]

Mmmmaybe.

[@siegmundeurades5753]

Zepherus sneaky

[@Alexrider02]

I remember reading a few articles about this stuff back then. It sounded fascinating and I was amazed by it. I'm sad that it's disappeared from the world, like so many other great inventions throughout history.

[@celivalg]

well apparently some people like this guy kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6K1ZZKLpKd8sLs made a pretty close replica to this "starlite", So I think starlite is real, and I don't think the gov has the receipie either... the original story might be true after all

[@AlexS-oj8qf]

When the egoism of one person cost the whole humanity something so useful.

[@CreamAle]

Baking soda, corn starch, white glue. Ezpz.

[@kerruhhh6954]

man, you deserve million of subscribers. the sheer amount of effort and thoroughness put into your videos is astounding and your channel is just awesome

[@josephrose5653]

Well, where's the hello internet squad at??? BTW flagy-flag is still the best!!!!!

[@josephrose5653]

CZ Frank 👌🏼

[@josephrose5653]

CZ Frank also I think grey & Brady should claim the unclaimed piece of Antarctica 🇦🇶

[@Zepherus]

Rebel scum - Nail and Gear will fly victorious!

[@Stanimir7]

Zepherus Flagy flag forever!

[@greysonweimer5305]

Zepherus fight fight fight fight

[@minirock000]

He made the claim that it will also "prevent a vehicle from being seen, or observed at night". He was a conman.

[@taylorhancock5834]

I enjoy how, after only 2 minutes, I have seen a reference to Hello Internet and the plane crash corner, and a comment by Wendover. Good job on being pop-culture-y and another great video Zepherus

[@Telsion]

its almost strange to see a new Zephyrus video, and I definitely enjoyed it! one little feedback thing, maybe put subtitles with audiofiles like this, especially with older people cuz non-natives like me could have some trouble understanding exactly what they are saying, thx! some questions: and where are you from? I just cant figure it out :/ how do you get your inspiration on what you want to make a video next? I mean, its not like you knew about all your subjects before you started making videos about them and thus conducting more research to those subjects?

[@Zepherus]

Yeah, others have made the same suggestion - I intend to add subtitles at some point. 1). East Anglia. 2). I know about subjects usually for quite a while before I make a video on them. I knew about the Big Piece for years before it dawned on me to do a video. Usually it's a few months beforehand through looking up interesting stuff for fun.

[@Telsion]

Zepherus alright, thank you! however... you just stumble upon topics in the cradles and ravines of the internet? is that how it works? bc that is quite funny actually

[@Zepherus]

Yeah, I just stumble across topics on the expanse that is the internet, and if I become fascinated then I have a video right there.

[@QazpazTheLumberJack]

Was that... The nail and gear? HELLO INTERNET!

[@stefanschleps8758]

The government won. However, some of you out there may have heard of the poor mans "starlite". It is made from baking soda and superglue, and I think there might be one other ingredient. Anyone know this? (Or was that Elmers glue and baking soda?)

[@eschel2155]

0.1 Mill subs! Congrats! You make great video's, Keep it up!

[@Zepherus]

Thanks!

[@KeithShizuo]

forgot to double the mono tv segment

[@jimish15]

KeithShizuo I only had the left ear bud in and I was wondering why the audio cut out

[@98_sam_]

10:25 Ha!

[@davidclarke4301]

I remember this. If I remember right it was only ever shown as a thick paste. The thought at the time, was that maybe it was surviving the heat by ablatively creating a surface plasma. It damaged a 240MW (not sure of the power) testing laser that was a couple of feet away, and it glowed when heated but never really got hot itself. There's every posiblity that they could never find a way of stabilising or solidifying the paste to be useful. So you could make up a batch, spread it on something and it would work but it'd fail when it effectively dried out/set. Maybe thats why he kept fiddling with that hard piece. Like it's a riddle he's trying to work out.

[@rabidrabbittt]

bah, humbug!

[@drkush6966]

but can it withstand a roundhouse kick from Bruce LEE???

[@flamingpotato4352]

gasp he has returned

[@silicalnz]

The HI reference :)

[@Antpaok]

who's the guy in the picture at 8:33

[@Zepherus]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Kitchener,_1st_Earl_Kitchener