Rediscovering the Genius of Roman Concrete

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Whether one likes it or not, concrete is a ubiquitous sign of human progress. Study on it a spell when looking around and seeing various forms of concrete in buildings, sidewalks, and so on. Like other things, it is subject to breaking down. Mayhaps it would last longer if it was made better? Well...

When the ancient Romans were building their empire, they had brilliant engineering feats such as the aqueducts — which even made water flow uphill for a ways. Roman concrete was a big part of the construction. Also consider their Pantheon.

Pantheon, Unsplash / Nicholas Martinelli
Those feats don't fail after all these years. This amazes people who are locked into their belief of descent with modifications evolution, as their worldview requires humans to be unintelligent way back when. That is why they're constantly surprised by artefacts and records of historical talents. Biblical creationists have long said — and repeatedly vindicated — that humans were created as intelligent beings from the beginning.

It is rather amazing that Roman concrete is actually better than what is used today. Recent studies show the chemistry involved that makes it self-healing. No, I don't reckon Romans were chemists like we have nowadays, but the results are there. The formula for it is known and being rediscovered.
A visit to Rome, Italy’s capital city, should take in the sites of its magnificent ancient Roman architecture. Among the many original buildings still in existence, arguably the most astonishing is the Pantheon (figs. 1–3). It boasts what is even today the biggest unsupported, unreinforced dome in the world,1 which is made of Roman-era concrete (opus caementicium). It has survived in pristine condition to the present day due to its amazing ‘self-healing’ properties—only now being revealed by science, as will be seen.

To read the rest, use your roamin' hands to click on "Rome conquered—with concrete!" An older article is also of interest, "Ancient Roman concrete … just like natural rock."