How are ancient Roman and Mayan buildings still standing? Scientists are unlocking their secrets | iNFOnews infotel.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from infotel.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
NEW YORK In the quest to build better for the future, some are looking for answers in the long-ago past. Ancient builders across the world created structures that are still standing today, thousands of years later from Roman engineers who poured thick concrete sea barriers, to Maya masons who crafted plaster sculptures to their gods, to Chinese
Scientists are trying to understand how some ancient buildings have lasted for centuries in hopes of making modern buildings more durable. Materials like Roman concrete and Maya plaster have held up structures for thousands of years. Meanwhile, the concrete that makes up our modern world only lasts about a century. Researchers have found that Roman engineers used methods and materials that gave their concrete the power to heal itself over time. And Maya masons added tree extracts to strengthen the lime plasters that coated their temples. Some researchers think uncovering this lost knowledge could help us build more sustainably for the future.
Scientists are trying to understand how some ancient buildings have lasted for centuries in hopes of making modern buildings more durable. Materials like Roman concrete and Maya plaster have held up structures for thousands of years. Meanwhile, the concrete that makes up our modern world only lasts about a century. Researchers have found that Roman engineers used methods and materials that gave their concrete the power to heal itself over time. And Maya masons added tree extracts to strengthen the lime plasters that coated their temples. Some researchers think uncovering this lost knowledge could help us build more sustainably for the future.