We Finally Know How Ancient Roman Concrete Was Able to Last Thousands of Years

floofloof@lemmy.ca to Technology@lemmy.world – 170 points –
We Finally Know How Ancient Roman Concrete Was Able to Last Thousands of Years
sciencealert.com
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Every year we seem to get an article about how we've finally discovered how Romans had really good concrete, as if we've not already known for ages.

The issue has always been about logistics, cost, time to produce, etc — not because we had no idea how the Romans did it.

This plus extreme selection bias. There's plenty of concrete that did not last for thousands of years.

"They don't make things like they used to. See that tube radio over there? It's 75 years old and still working! A rare find!"

But in their defense, not a single thing on Earth made in the last decade has lasted 75 years. Check mate.

And also fucking 16 wheelers. Romans did not drive 80 ton (made up number. I don't know how heavy big trucks are. But I'm Shure they are lighter than ancient wagons. To be honest I just hate cars and I want to use a scientific discussion to push my personal political view.) vehicles.