Loading video...

Video Failed to Load

Go Home

Roman concrete still can't be replicated.

92,651 views • 1 year ago •via X (Twitter)

11 Comments

Mendo's profile picture
Mendo1 year ago

Volcanic ash in the mortar and clay is the secret. These days it only has to last the warranty period. You're welcome.

The Information's profile picture
The Information1 year ago

Why it was cheap and easy for Berkeley and Chinese researchers to mimic the capabilities of OpenAI’s reasoning model.

OkAYYY!YEahh!'s profile picture
OkAYYY!YEahh!1 year ago

and the light bulb never used to burn out… but ya can’t make as much money off of things that last forever.

🄳🄸🅁🅃's profile picture
🄳🄸🅁🅃1 year ago

They used pigs blood in there concrete

mark stain's profile picture
mark stain1 year ago

They mixed seawater in, it made their concrete self healing. A crack would expose uncured lime to water, the water would cause the reactions, and it would heal itself.

TCJC's profile picture
TCJC1 year ago

The Romans cracked a code we’re still marveling at: self-healing concrete. They mixed seawater, lye (from burnt limestone), and crushed rock—volcanic ash like pumice or granite. The magic? A precise lime concentration. When water seeped in, instead of cracking, the mix reacted. The lime and seawater formed calcium-aluminum-silicate-hydrate (C-A-S-H), a crystal that filled gaps, hardening over time. Modern tests show Roman harbor walls—submerged for centuries—are tougher now than when built. Our Portland cement crumbles in decades; their stuff heals itself. Next time you see an ancient pier still standing, thank chemistry and Roman ingenuity. #History #Engineering #Science

TheGlaringGirl's profile picture
TheGlaringGirl1 year ago

One of the key differences is sea water Somehow when Roman concrete gets wet it fixes itself

DebtIsSlavery's profile picture
DebtIsSlavery1 year ago

yeah right, they just want to make crappy concrete you have to replace every 50 years like its some amazing plan.

Christopher Scovitch's profile picture
Christopher Scovitch1 year ago

Well not just that I think they made concrete a little different back then they used hummus in their concrete not sand like what we use there was a lot different materials back then you're right about that

🎨🧚‍♀️🌱🍁❄️alikat🐬☔️🌧🛁🪡🪷's profile picture
🎨🧚‍♀️🌱🍁❄️alikat🐬☔️🌧🛁🪡🪷1 year ago

perhaps they heated it first and as it cooled it set into something indestructible???

kuna12's profile picture
kuna121 year ago

Didn't they use some volcanic compound for it? Then it would never be replicated if that compound is gone

Related Videos