Where does this come from, and can I check it?

Dense composite structure gives bone extraordinary resistance to compression forces. The figure is taken from Natural History Museum, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

Is this really a human body fact?

Yes. It sits on the Human Body shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.

What else can I read about it?

The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.

Mondo Knows Facts

Ounce for ounce human bone is stronger than steel

Dense composite structure gives bone extraordinary resistance to compression forces

Ounce for ounce, healthy human bone tissue exhibits greater compressive strength than steel. Bone combines flexible collagen fibres with hard calcium phosphate minerals, creating a lightweight composite material capable of absorbing heavy impacts without shattering easily.

Femur (caput femoris) - bone structure detail (vertical cut) 2 — MAKY.OREL · CC0 · licence · source

Where this comes from

Natural History Museum

Facts that can change over time are reviewed and updated. If something here looks wrong, Mondo would rather know than be confidently incorrect.

Go further

Science trivia Weight Converter

More facts like this

Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human bodyDense hydroxyapatite crystal mineral matrix protects inner dentin layers More than half of all human bones are in the hands and feetEach hand contains 27 bones and each foot holds 26 bones for intricate movement The human rib cage contains twelve pairs of ribsMost ribs join at the sternum while the bottom two pairs float freely An adult human skeleton consists of 206 bonesInfants are born with around 270 bones which fuse together over childhood The smallest bone in the human body is inside the earMeasuring just three millimetres long the stapes bone helps transmit sound vibrations The femur is the longest and strongest bone in the bodyExtending from the hip to the knee the thigh bone supports most body weight

Tags: bones, strength, minerals

Ounce for ounce human bone is stronger than steel: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: Dense composite structure gives bone extraordinary resistance to compression forces. The figure is taken from Natural History Museum, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a human body fact?: Yes. It sits on the Human Body shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.