In this episode, our heroes dig deep into the Mines of Moria. Dr Chris Bumby, MacDiarmid Institute Associate Investigator and Senior Scientist at the Robinson Research Institute of Victoria University of Wellington regales Bryan with scientific tales of Mithril from Lord of the Rings.

Mithril is a fictional metal found in the writings of J. R. R. Tolkien. A very rare and expensive metal in Middle-earth, it is described as resembling silver, being stronger than steel but as light as wool.

Gandalf: "Bilbo had a shirt of Mithril rings that Thorin gave him."

Gimli: "Oh, that was a kingly gift."

Gandalf: "Yes! I never told him, but its worth was greater than the value of the Shire."

Dr Chris Bumby, MacDiarmid Institute Associate Investigator and Senior Scientist at the Robinson Research Institute of Victoria University of Wellington regales Bryan with scientific tales of Mithril from Lord of the Rings.

We're in the mines of Mordor here. We're right down in the deep depths of the earth. Who knows what's going on down there?

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details