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posted by n1 on Wednesday July 05 2017, @08:21AM   Printer-friendly
from the hard-as-nails dept.

Researchers have unlocked the chemistry of Roman concrete which has resisted the elements for thousands of years.

Ancient sea walls built by the Romans used a concrete made from lime and volcanic ash to bind with rocks.

Now scientists have discovered that elements within the volcanic material reacted with sea water to strengthen the construction.

[...] This new study says the scientists found significant amounts of tobermorite growing through the fabric of the concrete, with a related, porous mineral called phillipsite.

The researchers say that the long-term exposure to sea water helped these crystals to keep on growing over time, reinforcing the concrete and preventing cracks from developing.

Source: BBC News

American Mineralogist DOI: 10.2138/am-2017-5993CCBY


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  • (Score: 3, Offtopic) by leftover on Wednesday July 05 2017, @02:37PM (1 child)

    by leftover (2448) on Wednesday July 05 2017, @02:37PM (#535200)

    This "mystery" is "solved" every couple of years. As noted, it is described in ancient Roman writings. Breathless announcements probably date back only to the scramble for grant money being the driver for [scams disguised as] science. This pattern is becoming tedious. /grumble

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  • (Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 05 2017, @04:20PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 05 2017, @04:20PM (#535250)

    Breathless announcements probably date back only to the scramble for grant money being the driver for [scams disguised as] science. This pattern is becoming tedious.

    Bullshit. Almost every time, even with the "getting paid and staying employed" incentive for seeking grants, science has jack shit to do with "breathless announcements". Lay the blame where it should be: the PR department.