0:00:02 > 0:00:04Have you ever wondered what it would be like
0:00:04 > 0:00:06if humans had the super skills of animals?
0:00:06 > 0:00:10But who would be crazy enough to try and fly like a falcon,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13grip like the gorilla and swim like a shark?
0:00:13 > 0:00:14This guy.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18I'm Andy Torbet and this is Beyond Bionic.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21The show where I try and match the skills of some of nature's most
0:00:21 > 0:00:23incredible animals.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26Action is Andy's middle name, I mean it's Thomas but...
0:00:27 > 0:00:32And now, I'm using my super skills to take on nature's superheroes
0:00:32 > 0:00:35in the biggest challenge of my life.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38And don't worry, I'm hanging around to make sure he doesn't do anything
0:00:38 > 0:00:40too extreme.
0:00:40 > 0:00:41Whoa!
0:00:41 > 0:00:45Today's Beyond Bionic challenge really turns up the temperature as I
0:00:45 > 0:00:48try and match the most heat-resistant creature on earth.
0:00:49 > 0:00:50Is it hot in here?
0:00:51 > 0:00:54It's time to go beyond bionic.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57You wouldn't have much marshmallow left after this campfire.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18On today's Beyond Bionic,
0:01:18 > 0:01:22I'm tackling extreme temperatures as I try and match the incredible
0:01:22 > 0:01:25skills of one of nature's most heat-resistant animals.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Things are hotting up.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30That's super toasty, I can feel the heat from here.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34But it's not man-made heat that this creature can withstand,
0:01:34 > 0:01:36it's heat of a much more explosive kind.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44So I've hotfooted over to one of the world's most active volcanic spots -
0:01:44 > 0:01:48- Iceland.- I believe that's what they call an oxymoron,
0:01:48 > 0:01:52it's called Iceland but it's, like, the opposite, it's superhot.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56There are over 30 volcanoes here and hundreds of thermal springs formed
0:01:56 > 0:02:01when water seeps into the ground and then is heated by molten magma
0:02:01 > 0:02:02near the surface.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06If that water gets superhot, then it explodes out of the
0:02:06 > 0:02:10earth in a boiling fountain known as a geyser.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14- All right?- Not that sort of geezer.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16This sort of geyser.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23It's not just volcanoes above ground that create geysers.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28Underwater volcanoes can create these superhot jets of water, too.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30When you find a geyser at the bottom of the ocean,
0:02:30 > 0:02:33it's called a hydrothermal vent, and that's exactly where
0:02:33 > 0:02:35this little fellow lives.
0:02:35 > 0:02:36The Pompeii worm.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39Andy, that's a dead worm.
0:02:39 > 0:02:40Is there a worm doctor in the house?
0:02:42 > 0:02:46This worm is a very rare specimen used for scientific study.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51These worms were only discovered in the mid-1980s.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55Ah, the olden days before mobile phones and the Internet.
0:02:55 > 0:02:56Did that time really exist?
0:02:58 > 0:03:02Very little is known about the Pompeii worm as they live over
0:03:02 > 0:03:052,000 metres below the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09The Pompeii worm is one superhot geezer.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12OK, I get it, this worm is hot stuff.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14So how are you going to beat it?
0:03:15 > 0:03:19I'm going to try and survive extreme heat just like the Pompeii worm.
0:03:19 > 0:03:20So there's only one thing to do.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22I've got to go beyond bionic.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33The Pompeii worm belongs to a huge family of worms called polychaetes,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36also known as bristle worms because they're covered in hairs.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40I've got a burning desire to know more, Andy.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43The Pompeii worm was discovered in the mid-1980s by French marine
0:03:43 > 0:03:47biologists, and it's one of the most heat-resistant creatures on Earth.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51It's name is taken from the Roman city of Pompeii that was destroyed
0:03:51 > 0:03:54during an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57Explosive facts!
0:03:57 > 0:03:58I like it.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02Life deep under the Pacific Ocean is truly extreme.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05The hydrothermal vents, where the Pompeii worm lives, spew out jets
0:04:05 > 0:04:08of water four times hotter than a boiling kettle.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12But the seawater surrounding the thermal vent is near-freezing cold.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15What? I don't know whether to break a sweat or start shivering.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17This causes a bigger temperature difference
0:04:17 > 0:04:19in the tubes the worms call home,
0:04:19 > 0:04:23their tails stay inside the tubes keeping toasty warm at 80 Celsius,
0:04:23 > 0:04:28but their heads poke out into the ocean at a much cooler 22 degrees.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30That is one extreme hot tub.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33And it's not just extreme temperatures that make this little
0:04:33 > 0:04:37creature one tough cookie. The superheated water coming out of the
0:04:37 > 0:04:41thermal vents also contain toxic chemicals and molten metal.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44Andy, I hate to say it but the Pompeii worm is totally
0:04:44 > 0:04:45beyond bionic.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48This is going to be one awesome challenge.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55My fiery challenge today is to work out how to survive
0:04:55 > 0:04:57like a Pompeii worm,
0:04:57 > 0:05:02and expose myself to some seriously hot temperatures.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05The Pompeii worm has incredible natural abilities to withstand heat.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09And it's got me inspired to see if I can do the same.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13So how are you going to test your heat resistance, Andy?
0:05:13 > 0:05:17I have to work out how to withstand the massive flames
0:05:17 > 0:05:22in the intense heat of this Beyond Bionic inferno.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24So this is like a giant walk-in barbecue.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28Whoa! You're going to be toast.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32So I need to search out the science that could help me go beyond bionic.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35With this wall of water, and my protective clothing,
0:05:35 > 0:05:36I can't feel anything.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42Enabling me to withstand extreme heat, just like the Pompeii worm.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53First off, I need to find out how heat resistant my body is.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58Come on, no worm could ever survive in there.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01The fact the Pompeii worm can withstand temperatures of over
0:06:01 > 0:06:0480 Celsius is incredible.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07For such a small creature, it's certainly a pretty big task
0:06:07 > 0:06:11and the first thing I need to do is work out how much heat my own skin
0:06:11 > 0:06:12can withstand.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21And what better way to do that than with a spot of fire walking?
0:06:21 > 0:06:22And they want me to walk on that.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28Our skin protects our internal organs from all sorts of damage
0:06:28 > 0:06:31and the skin on our feet is the toughest layer of all.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33Good job, because I'm going to put mine to the test
0:06:33 > 0:06:36on burning-hot embers.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Now, I'm all for encouraging people to go out and have adventures but,
0:06:39 > 0:06:41in this instance I need to point out,
0:06:41 > 0:06:45I'm doing all this under expert supervision. I've even got...
0:06:47 > 0:06:50..my own team of firefighters and medics on site making sure I'm safe.
0:06:50 > 0:06:55So, in this instance, I have to say, genuinely, don't try this at home.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01There's a real art to fire walking, and you have to get the temperature
0:07:01 > 0:07:04just right, which means letting the fire burn down to leave superhot
0:07:04 > 0:07:06glowing embers.
0:07:10 > 0:07:11Who's that tough cookie?
0:07:12 > 0:07:15Karen, that was very impressive, how hot is that?
0:07:15 > 0:07:18On average 660 degrees Celsius.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20OK, so what sort of temperature would your feet burn at?
0:07:20 > 0:07:25Your skin on your feet will start burning at round about 200 Celsius.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28So why don't your feet burn when you walk across this?
0:07:28 > 0:07:33Because we've burned the wood down to its carbon ember state,
0:07:33 > 0:07:37and what we love about wood is when it's burning it radiates heat,
0:07:37 > 0:07:40it throws out the heat and it keeps us nice and warm, but wood isn't
0:07:40 > 0:07:44- very good at transferring the heat onto the source of your feet.- OK.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48So with a short contact time with the brisk pace that you're walking,
0:07:48 > 0:07:50your feet will be unharmed.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54Yeah, I hear everything you're saying, but that still looks pretty
0:07:54 > 0:07:55terrifying to me.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Now, the Pompeii worm has this bacterial layer
0:08:00 > 0:08:02which acts as a barrier to the heat.
0:08:02 > 0:08:03If I did something similar,
0:08:03 > 0:08:07say dip my feet in water before I started, would that help?
0:08:07 > 0:08:09It may help for the first step of one foot,
0:08:09 > 0:08:12the first step of your second foot, but then what happens is the water's
0:08:12 > 0:08:16transferred onto the embers and then it evaporates with the heat
0:08:16 > 0:08:18and then it's disappeared by the third, fourth,
0:08:18 > 0:08:21and fifth steps, so it really is, "Keep moving."
0:08:23 > 0:08:27This is six metres of burning-hot embers and as the fire walk gets
0:08:27 > 0:08:31closer, everyone is focused on getting the job done safely.
0:08:34 > 0:08:39Things are starting to heat up, these embers are now at 660 Celsius.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41That is superhot.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45The question is, can I cross them in my bare feet without getting burned?
0:08:45 > 0:08:47Karen, any last top tips?
0:08:47 > 0:08:49Walk briskly, keep moving.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52OK. Time to take the worm on at its own game.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Ow, ow, ow, ow, owie!
0:08:56 > 0:08:57Are you finished?
0:08:57 > 0:08:59The trick is to keep walking.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01If I stand still I'll burn my feet.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05And a Pompeii worm would find this a walk in the park.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12I think the heat has gone to your head, you're doing it again?
0:09:12 > 0:09:15You're definitely going to need a pedicure and a foot spa after this.
0:09:20 > 0:09:21Woohoo! Well done, well done!
0:09:21 > 0:09:23- Thank you very much. - Now, how was it?
0:09:23 > 0:09:26- Was it anything like you thought it was going to be?- No, it's a bit
0:09:26 > 0:09:29bizarre, cos you stand there looking at these red-hot embers
0:09:29 > 0:09:32in front of you, and the idea of walking on them with your bare feet
0:09:32 > 0:09:34seems, quite frankly, a bit mad.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37And it's that first step is the bit you need to
0:09:37 > 0:09:40kind of push yourself to do and then, once you're walking,
0:09:40 > 0:09:41you suddenly realise that, actually,
0:09:41 > 0:09:43your feet aren't even hot, let alone burning.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46- No, you don't feel the heat. - It's incredible.- Cos you think
0:09:46 > 0:09:49you're going to step on it and your feet are going to burst into flame.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52But sometimes it feels cool, sometimes it feels warm and it's
0:09:52 > 0:09:54never, ever, ever what you expect it's going to feel like.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Well, thank you very much for showing me
0:09:56 > 0:09:59that a human being can actually walk on fire.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02I may have fire walked, but I'm nowhere near matching the Pompeii
0:10:02 > 0:10:05worm because, this time, I've only exposed my feet to the heat.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10Not my whole body. So now it's time to go bionic and find the technology
0:10:10 > 0:10:13that will help me face those extreme temperatures head on.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24This is one heavy-duty worm, but how hot is its competition?
0:10:25 > 0:10:28I have a feeling it's going to get a bit heated around here.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32The Saharan silver ant is one of the most heat-resistant animals on the
0:10:32 > 0:10:37planet, surviving in desert temperatures of up to 50 Celsius.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41But 50 Celsius to the Pompeii worm wouldn't even raise a sweat.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Because these guys could survive in temperatures up to 80 degrees.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48You can't worm your way out of losing that one, Mr Ant.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51A mouse sure knows how to get out of a tight spot,
0:10:51 > 0:10:55as it's able to fit through gaps twice as small as its body width,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58but scientists believe Pompeii worms can fit into spaces ten times
0:10:58 > 0:11:00smaller than their width.
0:11:01 > 0:11:02Tight squeeze right there.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07The male sperm whale can reach 18 metres in length and usually
0:11:07 > 0:11:11hunts for its food around 1,500m below the surface.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15But you've got to dive down much further to find the Pompeii worm,
0:11:15 > 0:11:19who can be found hanging out at depths of over 2,000 metres.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22That is one awesome-winning worm all right.
0:11:25 > 0:11:30Animals really are nature's superheroes and I'm totally in awe.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33But I'm also seriously competitive, hate being beaten,
0:11:33 > 0:11:35and I like to win.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38So, if I'm going to stand a chance against the strongest,
0:11:38 > 0:11:42fastest and best-designed animals in the world,
0:11:42 > 0:11:44I need their super skills.
0:11:44 > 0:11:45And how do I do that?
0:11:45 > 0:11:47I'm going around the world to find
0:11:47 > 0:11:49the latest in cutting-edge technology
0:11:49 > 0:11:52and the experts who could help me transform my body
0:11:52 > 0:11:54and go beyond bionic.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59So, what have I got to do to survive
0:11:59 > 0:12:01like a Pompeii worm and withstand
0:12:01 > 0:12:02extreme heat?
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Stay cool, my friend. How are you going to live like me?
0:12:05 > 0:12:08The Pompeii worm can survive near-boiling temperatures,
0:12:08 > 0:12:10thanks to a special kind of insulation
0:12:10 > 0:12:12it can grow all by itself.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Ooh, like a snuggly-warm fleecy coat.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18Its very own fleecy coat made out of bacteria.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21The worm has tiny glands that produce mucus, which is the
0:12:21 > 0:12:22perfect food for the bacteria.
0:12:22 > 0:12:27They grow up to 1cm thick, coating the worm in a thermal blanket.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30That is so gross and so genius at the same time.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33This coat insulates the worm and protects it from heat,
0:12:33 > 0:12:35so all I've got to do is...
0:12:35 > 0:12:36Cover yourself in something sticky?
0:12:36 > 0:12:38Hope some bacteria won't lunch?
0:12:38 > 0:12:41Grow your own insulating bug coat?
0:12:41 > 0:12:44I've got to find the right tech to protect me against the intense heat
0:12:44 > 0:12:48as I take on the Beyond Bionic inferno.
0:12:48 > 0:12:49Is it getting hot in here?
0:12:56 > 0:12:59I'm determined to turn up the heat on this challenge,
0:12:59 > 0:13:03so I've got suited and booted and I'm joining forces...
0:13:04 > 0:13:08..with the firefighters from Manchester Airport.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14One crucial component of the Pompeii worm's heat resistance is
0:13:14 > 0:13:18a centimetre-thick coat of bacteria which covers their entire body.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20This provides a natural barrier
0:13:20 > 0:13:23against the near-boiling water which the worms inhabit.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29Now, you and I don't have that and, if we did, it would be pretty gross,
0:13:29 > 0:13:31and that's why I'm dressed up like a firefighter.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35I've joined firefighter Andy Evans on a training exercise.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37So, Andy, what am I actually wearing?
0:13:37 > 0:13:39You're wearing fire-protective boots,
0:13:39 > 0:13:42fire-retardant trousers,
0:13:42 > 0:13:45fire-retardant jacket with fire-retardant gloves
0:13:45 > 0:13:46and a fire-retardant helmet.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48And how does it work?
0:13:48 > 0:13:51It basically creates a barrier between you and the heat source.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54- OK. So it insulates you... - Insulates you from the fire, yes.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56And is there anything else that you
0:13:56 > 0:13:59use that allows you to approach a fire safely?
0:13:59 > 0:14:01Yeah, we will reintroduce water,
0:14:01 > 0:14:04which also insulates us from the fire and heat source,
0:14:04 > 0:14:07creates a cooling barrier, and enables
0:14:07 > 0:14:09you to work nice and comfortable for long periods of time.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12- Can I see that in action? - Dead right.
0:14:15 > 0:14:16Here at the airport,
0:14:16 > 0:14:20the Fire Service has a full-size mock-up of a jet engine,
0:14:20 > 0:14:24which is used to train firefighters to tackle high-intensity blazes.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27And I'm getting the chance to put my
0:14:27 > 0:14:30protective clothing and hose skills to the test.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41The temperature inside that engine is about 1,000 degrees.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49With this wall of water and my protective clothing,
0:14:49 > 0:14:50I can't feel anything.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56The Pompeii worm also uses water to improve its heat resistance.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00The red, tentacled head of the worm takes in cold water from the
0:15:00 > 0:15:02ocean and pumps it around its body, helping to cool it down.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11The power of this hose is incredible!
0:15:11 > 0:15:16It can deliver water at a rate of 450 litres per minute.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19My clothing and the water mean I can get close to the fire,
0:15:19 > 0:15:22but without them, the temperature would be unbearable
0:15:22 > 0:15:24and I'd be in real danger from the flames.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37That was incredible.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40To be so close to the fire, but with all this equipment on and
0:15:40 > 0:15:45my protective wall of water, I could feel almost no heat at all.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50So, I'd definitely improved my Pompeii worm-like abilities.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54But as close as I was, I was still on the edge of the fire,
0:15:54 > 0:15:56I wasn't in the heart of the heat.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59And that's where a Pompeii worm lives and that's what I've got
0:15:59 > 0:16:02to try and do, so things are just heating up.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11The Beyond Bionic team have set me a burning-hot challenge to survive
0:16:11 > 0:16:13extreme temperatures, just like the Pompeii worm.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15The trick is to keep walking.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17If I stand still, I'll burn my feet.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21So I've got to find a way to transform my body and give myself
0:16:21 > 0:16:24the same heat-resistant abilities as this mega minibeast.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27I've found some incredible protective clothing that can help me
0:16:27 > 0:16:29resist intense heat from a distance.
0:16:30 > 0:16:31But now, I need to find something
0:16:31 > 0:16:35that will protect me when I'm completely surrounded by flames
0:16:35 > 0:16:37in the Beyond Bionic inferno.
0:16:37 > 0:16:42Can I survive extreme heat, just like the Pompeii worm?
0:16:42 > 0:16:44Or will my challenge go up in smoke?
0:16:45 > 0:16:49I want to get one step closer to success in this challenge,
0:16:49 > 0:16:53so I've come to a place where people work in genuinely extreme
0:16:53 > 0:16:55temperatures every single day.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02This is Somers Forge near Birmingham.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06In here, they use giant furnaces running at temperatures of
0:17:06 > 0:17:10over 1,200 degrees to help them melt down iron ore to make steel.
0:17:12 > 0:17:13Look at that!
0:17:13 > 0:17:19This huge furnace is six times hotter and at least 100 times bigger
0:17:19 > 0:17:22than the oven that you or I have at home.
0:17:22 > 0:17:28In fact, the heat inside there is as hot as lava coming out of a volcano.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35Wow! But I mean, just think how quickly it could do a pizza.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39Stood here, I can feel my face almost burning.
0:17:39 > 0:17:44It's like the hottest day you've ever felt in summer times ten!
0:17:44 > 0:17:47In fact, it's too hot, I'm getting out of here.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53But there are people here whose job it is to work close to the furnace
0:17:53 > 0:17:55and to handle the red-hot metals that come out of it.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59OK, are they, like, astronauts or something?
0:18:02 > 0:18:06That huge piece of metal has been baking inside the furnace
0:18:06 > 0:18:10for three days, and yet, that guy can't stand so close to it
0:18:10 > 0:18:14without the need of some big fountain of water to protect him.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17So I think a suit just like that one
0:18:17 > 0:18:20could be the key to success in this challenge.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27This is the X30 silver suit.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30This insulated shell is one of the most heat-resistant products in the
0:18:30 > 0:18:32world and promises to protect its wearer
0:18:32 > 0:18:36in heats of up to 1,650 Celsius.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40Let's find out just how good it is.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47The heat coming off this furnace is immense!
0:18:47 > 0:18:51But there's no way I could stand here without this suit on.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55And to show you just how hot it is, I've brought a snack.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59Mmm, chocolate, my favourite!
0:18:59 > 0:19:01Hey... Hey, wait, no, what are you doing?
0:19:02 > 0:19:04No! What a total waste!
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Now, that is hot chocolate.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Now, THAT is snacktime ruined!
0:19:18 > 0:19:22That heat was unbelievable but, crucially,
0:19:22 > 0:19:25I couldn't feel a thing inside the silver suit.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29So I think this is definitely the ticket to ensure success
0:19:29 > 0:19:31in my final challenge.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34So what if we had other worm-like super skills?
0:19:37 > 0:19:39What if you could stretch your body
0:19:39 > 0:19:40like the Pompeii worm?
0:19:40 > 0:19:42You wouldn't have any problems
0:19:42 > 0:19:44reaching the top shelf in your kitchen,
0:19:44 > 0:19:47because you'd be able to stretch your body twice its own length.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52What if you dived underwater to say ciao to the Pompeii worm?
0:19:52 > 0:19:54You would need to hold your breath
0:19:54 > 0:19:58for a very long time because, to swim to depths of 2,500m
0:19:58 > 0:20:01would take around 14 hours.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04What if you could squeeze into small spaces like the Pompeii worm?
0:20:04 > 0:20:07You could fit up a drainpipe, if you fancied being a drip.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16It's time for my final challenge -
0:20:16 > 0:20:21to survive exposure to extreme heat, just like my Pompeii worm friend.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26The Beyond Bionic team have set up my final challenge in this
0:20:26 > 0:20:31very special emergency services training facility in Merseyside.
0:20:31 > 0:20:36And for good reason, because this is my most explosive challenge yet.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39I mean, you're playing with fire, literally!
0:20:39 > 0:20:41And we all know that's real dangerous.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49I'm fully equipped for this.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51I'm armed with a special heat-resistant silver suit,
0:20:51 > 0:20:55my very own version of the Pompeii worm's bacterial layer
0:20:55 > 0:20:58that protects it from extreme temperatures.
0:20:58 > 0:21:04This suit can withstand temperatures of over 1,500 Celsius.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07That's kind of volcano heat! OK...
0:21:07 > 0:21:10And I hope it works, because I'm going to be surrounded by
0:21:10 > 0:21:14intense heat in a 360-degree firestorm.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17At the blast furnace, the heat was only coming from one direction.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20And I'm now entering a space where the heat is going to be
0:21:20 > 0:21:23all around me, just like the worm.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28The challenge ahead of me is to withstand the intense heat
0:21:28 > 0:21:32inside this - our very own specially constructed Beyond Bionic inferno.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38The flames are going to pack quite a punch as they whip round me
0:21:38 > 0:21:42just centimetres away in a big fiery vortex.
0:21:42 > 0:21:47And the heat inside this chamber can rise to above 500 Celsius.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50Now, that is proper Pompeii worm stuff.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55My Beyond Bionic challenge is all going to be controlled by our
0:21:55 > 0:21:58special effects supervisor, Andy.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01So, Andy, run me through exactly what we've got here.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03A large steel tank.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06We've got three flame bars inside and the base is a giant fan.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09So we're going to start that fan going, create a big vortex
0:22:09 > 0:22:12and then we're going to pump in up to 120 litres of propane
0:22:12 > 0:22:14and set it on fire.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16That is a genius plan.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19OK. So, on the safety side,
0:22:19 > 0:22:22what measures have we got to make sure nothing goes wrong?
0:22:22 > 0:22:26Essentially, we're going to start by introducing only a small amount of
0:22:26 > 0:22:29propane and we'll gradually increase the amount.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33We start relatively warm and then I give you a thumbs up and we just
0:22:33 > 0:22:35get it hotter and hotter and hotter.
0:22:35 > 0:22:36And what do we max out at?
0:22:36 > 0:22:39What's the highest temperature it will get to in there?
0:22:39 > 0:22:41- It's going to exceed 500 Celsius. - OK, sounds good.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43In that case, I will finish getting dressed and I'll see
0:22:43 > 0:22:45- you back here in a minute.- OK.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52And there are lots of people on stand-by if I need any help.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54There are paramedics and a fire crew.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57Without them, I definitely would not be doing this.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01Even a fire engine, but fingers crossed we won't need this today.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Does your mum know you're doing this, Andy?
0:23:04 > 0:23:07Yeah, you're good. That's it.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09I'm leaving nothing to chance.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11As well as all this thermal protection,
0:23:11 > 0:23:14I've also got an air cylinder on my back, it feeds into this,
0:23:14 > 0:23:16my breathing mask.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20And that means, inside the inferno, I can still breathe fresh air.
0:23:20 > 0:23:21Number three.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25Yep, you're good.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29I've got on my boots, my trousers,
0:23:29 > 0:23:32my jacket, my breathing apparatus, my underhood.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35I've just got my big, silver hood-helmet to go on
0:23:35 > 0:23:37as the last piece and then my gloves.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43Oh, my, this is really happening.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49Final checks complete.
0:23:51 > 0:23:52The time has come.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56I can stop this challenge at any time.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02But this suit is at the cutting-edge of 21st-century protection.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05I just have to believe in it.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09Good luck, Andy! Oh, I'm sweating already!
0:24:09 > 0:24:11This is incredible.
0:24:11 > 0:24:12Standing inside an oven.
0:24:13 > 0:24:14OK.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20It's just me and the flicker of flames.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23Stand by, stand by!
0:24:25 > 0:24:28I know, in just a few moments, that will all change.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32Now it's time to go beyond bionic!
0:24:32 > 0:24:35Firing in three, two,
0:24:35 > 0:24:37one, fire!
0:24:40 > 0:24:42Whoa! Uh!
0:24:46 > 0:24:50It's amazing because what your eyes are telling you is that you're stood
0:24:50 > 0:24:55in the middle of a fireball, but yet your body is completely protected.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02The first blast of fire was definitely a shock.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05The size of the flames and how bright it was,
0:25:05 > 0:25:07but it didn't burn for long.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09Now it's time to turn up the heat and the gas
0:25:09 > 0:25:11and hit me with a longer burn.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13Is this for real?
0:25:13 > 0:25:15Wait, you're doing it again?!
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Whoa, whoa, whoa!
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Here we go again. OK, a longer burn this time.
0:25:21 > 0:25:22More intense heat.
0:25:26 > 0:25:27Whoa!
0:25:29 > 0:25:32The suit seems to be able to take more heat for longer.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35After just a few seconds, I can already appreciate how extreme
0:25:35 > 0:25:38it must be to live with heat surrounding you all the time,
0:25:38 > 0:25:40just like the Pompeii worm.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44I have no idea how this tiny creature does it day in, day out.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47But you're not doing too bad yourself, Andy!
0:25:48 > 0:25:49It's incredible in here.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54The flames are just flying round me.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57And it's like standing inside a volcano.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02My volcano has one last eruption for me -
0:26:02 > 0:26:04the highest temperature and the longest burn.
0:26:04 > 0:26:05Stand by, stand by!
0:26:05 > 0:26:10Will my silver suit protect me from temperatures above 500 Celsius?
0:26:10 > 0:26:13You can feel a little bit of heat through the suit, but not much,
0:26:13 > 0:26:17I'm still in one piece. I'm still good.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20Andy, you cannot be enjoying this barbecue.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Firing in three, two,
0:26:24 > 0:26:26one, fire!
0:26:29 > 0:26:31You're totally on fire, Andy!
0:26:31 > 0:26:33We should call this show Beyond Crazy Bananas!
0:26:33 > 0:26:36- Whoa! - HE CHUCKLES
0:26:36 > 0:26:41You're stood in the middle of a fireball but, yet, it is beautiful.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45You've definitely proven that this suit works.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48I think the little worm guy would be super impressed.
0:26:48 > 0:26:49It was incredible!
0:26:49 > 0:26:54It was bizarre to see that fireball
0:26:54 > 0:26:55racing around yourself.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59And your eyes are telling you that, you know, you should be burning,
0:26:59 > 0:27:01but I couldn't feel any heat at all.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03This suit is incredible.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07It's an amazing bit of tech and it works perfectly.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09Finally!
0:27:09 > 0:27:13Andy, that was the scariest Beyond Bionic challenge yet!
0:27:13 > 0:27:15We need to cool you down quick.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19How about an ice-cold drink? Maybe some ice cream?
0:27:19 > 0:27:20That was incredible.
0:27:20 > 0:27:26It's amazing to stand inside what is just a massive fireball.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30I managed to withstand temperatures inside the inferno
0:27:30 > 0:27:33of over 500 Celsius
0:27:33 > 0:27:37with my version of the Pompeii worm's bacterial layer.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41So this time, I've matched the power of the Pompeii worm.
0:27:43 > 0:27:44I took on one of the most
0:27:44 > 0:27:47heat-resistant animals on the planet - the Pompeii worm.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51I battled flames and incredible temperatures
0:27:51 > 0:27:55to match its ability to deal with extreme heat.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58I truly went beyond bionic to take on the mighty Pompeii worm.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02And best of all, I survived.
0:28:02 > 0:28:03Thanks, guys!