Everything Everywhere Daily Starlite: The Miracle That Never Was
Aug 28, 2025
In the 1980s, Maurice Ward created Starlite, a heat-resistant material that could endure extreme temperatures and protect nearby objects. Despite its revolutionary potential, the invention remained unproduced due to Ward's secretive nature. The tale highlights the intriguing theme of lost innovations and the challenges of validating groundbreaking inventions. The discussion reveals how a hairdresser's tragic experience inspired this remarkable creation, leaving a legacy of both wonder and frustration in the world of material science.
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Hobbyist Turned Inventor
- Maurice Ward was a Hartlepool hairdresser who experimented with materials and created Starlite after the Manchester air disaster.
- He blended discarded car-material samples and discovered sheets that withstood blowtorch flames.
How Starlite Worked
- Starlite was an intumescent material that charred into an expanding low-density carbon foam when heated.
- That foam provided extreme thermal resistance, allowing objects like eggs to remain uncooked under intense flame.
The BBC Egg Demo
- The BBC demonstration showed an egg coated in Starlite exposed to a blowtorch remained raw inside.
- The presenter could pick up the egg with bare hands after minutes under a 2,000°C flame.