Not everything was better in the past, mostly just earlier. But in the case of Roman concrete, the antique building material is not only friendlier to the environment than its modern-day counterpart, but above all more durable. The buildings erected 2000 years ago in ancient Rome, such as the Pantheon or the Colosseum, partly defy decay to this day. Scientists have long puzzled what made the Roman concrete “opus caementitium” so amazingly durable. Researchers from the USA, Switzerland and Italy have now uncovered another secret: Apart from a special production process, the constituents also play a decisive role. The results could help in modern construction - also in the fight against climate change.
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