What ancient technologies were lost in the Middle Ages? What problems have scientists encountered in restoring these technologies?

The world has never had more advanced technology than now, but that doesn't mean that something has not been lost in the process. With the passage of time, many ancient technologies, inventions and manufacturing processes have disappeared, while others are still not fully understood by modern scientists. Some have been rediscovered (indoor pipes, road construction), but more mysterious technologies have become legends.

First of all, the Stradivari violin

/kloc-a forgotten technology in the 0/8th century is the production process of the famous Stradivari violin and other stringed instruments. Violin, as well as various violins, cellos and guitars, were built by the Italian stradivari family in about 1650- 1750.

Violin was highly respected at that time and was famous for its incomparable and unrepeatable sound quality. Today, there are only about 600 musical instruments left, most of which are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In fact, the name stradivari has become synonymous with quality, and it has become a descriptive term for anything considered the best in this field.

How did you lose it?

The production technology of stradivari's musical instruments is a family secret, only old Antonio? Stradivari and his sons Omobono and Francisco knew.

After their death, the production technology was also lost, but this did not stop some people from trying to copy it. Stradivari's musical instruments have a strange phenomenon of * * * vibration. Researchers have found that the size of musical instruments has a great relationship with the density of musical instruments. However, some people question the particularity of these tools.

In fact, at least one study shows that most people don't even notice the difference in sound quality between Stradivari violin and modern violin.

Second, Damascus steel knife

Damascus steel knife is a kind of metal with extremely high strength, which was widely used in the Middle East 1 100- 1700. It is most famous for casting swords and knives.

The blade forged with Damascus steel is famous for its amazing strength and cutting ability. It is said that it can cut rocks and other metals (including fragile blades) in half.

These blades are considered to be made of Jane Pride steel imported from India and Sri Lanka, and are molded and mixed to make patterned blades.

The special quality of this sword is believed to come from this process. It weaves hard cementite and soft iron together to form a tough and hard metal.

How did you lose it?

The special process of forging Damascus steel knives seems to have disappeared around AD 1750, and the exact reason for the loss of this technology is still unclear.

However, there are several speculations. The most likely reason is that the supply of ore with special formula for making Damascus steel knives began to decrease, so sword manufacturers were forced to develop other technologies.

Another reason is that the whole formula of Damascus steel, especially the existence of carbon nanotubes, was discovered by accident, but craftsmen were not familiar with this technology.

Instead, they just need to forge all the swords together and then test them to determine which one meets the standard of Damascus steel knives.

No matter what technology is adopted, Damascus steel knife is a technology that modern experimenters can't completely copy. There are some welding knives on the market, which are said to be Damascus steel knives. Although the manufacturing process is very good, they are just poor imitations of the real Damascus steel knife technology that has disappeared.

Three. Pine leaf herb

Lost technology is not always caused by too much secrecy or poor records. Sometimes, the survival of the fittest in nature, such as Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica, is an example. This is a magical herb, which was used by the Romans as one of the earliest methods of birth control.

It is the fruit of fennel plant. This flowering herb only grows on a coastline in modern Libya. The heart-shaped fruit of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica is considered as a panacea for a series of diseases such as fever and indigestion.