The D-pairs of a string of letters are the ordered pairs of letters that are distance D from each other. A string is D-unique if all of its D-pairs are different. A string is surprising if it is D-unique for every possible distance D.
Consider the string ZGBG. Its 0-pairs are ZG, GB, and BG. Since these three pairs are all different, ZGBG is 0-unique. Similarly, the 1-pairs of ZGBG are ZB and GG, and since these two pairs are different, ZGBG is 1-unique. Finally, the only 2-pair of ZGBG is ZG, so ZGBG is 2-unique. Thus ZGBG is surprising. (Note that the fact that ZG is both a 0-pair and a 2-pair of ZGBG is irrelevant, because 0 and 2 are different distances.)
Acknowledgement: This problem is inspired by the "Puzzling Adventures" column in the December 2003 issue of Scientific American.