Universal antidote, damask steel and other valuable things that humanity has lost forever

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

It is generally accepted that the present is far more "advanced" than the past in every respect. However, everyone forgets that in the past many very amazing things were discovered or invented, which for one reason or another were lost forever. Some of them just appeared "at the wrong time", others were not appreciated. In any case, the past also has something to boast about.

1. Damask steel

Damascus swords are well known for their quality and craftsmanship. It is believed that the Damascus steel exported from India all over the world due to its high quality was the best of any steel, even by modern standards. The weapons made from her were really the best. Although Damascus swords have been successfully reproduced using modern methods, they are still far from the very "real" weapons, the manufacturing technique of which has been completely lost. Although scientists know a lot about the composition of the metal and other details, they have not been able to reproduce it even with modern methods.

2. Baths "Sutro"

Think of the best swimming pool you've ever visited, and then imagine that there were at least seven of these in the Sutro Baths in California. In addition to being a real miracle of the recreational world, it was also the largest indoor pool complex at the time (seven pools with different temperatures, various slides, a diving site and a capacity of 10,000 people, which is still the largest recreational facility today. in the USA). Unfortunately, the pool went through difficult times during the Great Depression. Even after a major overhaul, it never regained its lost glory.

3. Iron column in Delhi

While other technologies were actively developing in the world, India for some reason was focused on improving metals. One of the oldest mysteries for metallurgical scientists is the iron pillar in Delhi. It would seem like an ordinary iron column in the midst of archaeological ruins, but its very existence has baffled scientists since they discovered it. It does not rust at all, which is typical not only for iron pillars of the fourth century BC, but for any iron pillars in general.

People still do not have the technology for the production of such iron, although the production of new materials that do not rust has long been established. Research has shown that an iron pole can be covered with a film that protects it from rust. However, some scientists have noted that this may simply be due to the large amount of phosphorus in iron. In general, everyone is now wondering why the method of building the column was not recorded in any document.

4. New York "Racetrack"

Even today, few places can rival the greatest theater in New York. However, for those who lived at the time, the Hippodrome Theater was always regarded as intended for the general public and not for the "Broadway high society theatergoers." The Racetrack had a seating capacity of 5,200, about 10 times that of a typical Broadway stage.

It was so popular that it inspired other Hippodromes around the country. But nothing could compare to the original. Unfortunately, the Hippodrome turned out to be too big to function normally. Due to too high production costs and the Great Depression, the racetrack was demolished in 1939.

5. Mirror "burner"

Anyone who tried to set fire to a piece of paper with a magnifying glass wondered why this technology was not used as a weapon. At least none other than Archimedes, who used his "death ray", made of ordinary mirrors, against Roman ships during the siege of Syracuse. It was essentially like a magnifying glass. Although Roman and Greek historians definitely mention such a device used in the siege of the city from the sea, it remains a mystery why there was no subsequent attempt to reproduce such a device, and also why not a single example of Archimedes' weapons survived.

6. Guaira Falls

Today you will not surprise anyone with amazing waterfalls. The world is replete with a variety of examples of this natural wonder, many of which are popular tourist attractions. But Guaira Falls was especially magnificent, as it was once the largest amount of water in the world (about twice as much as Niagara Falls). Guaira consisted of seven huge mighty waterfalls on the border of Paraguay and Brazil and was considered one of the natural wonders of South America.

The stream of water was so strong that it could be heard at a distance of 32 kilometers. The waterfall was destroyed when the Itaipu Dam was built over it, which provides 75 percent of Paraguay's electricity. It would seem a useful idea, but at the same time one of the most amazing waterfalls in the world was lost.

7. Universal antidote

If now someone declared that there is a universal antidote for all known poisons, the question would probably immediately arise: why is it not being sold. It's simple: today no one else knows his recipe, because it was lost a long time ago. But more importantly, to develop it, you need to be a real paranoid, like the king of Pontus Mithridates VI. He actually had a reason to be paranoid, as he was one of the most powerful and hated enemies of ancient Rome.

Known for his knowledge of toxins and chemicals, he made himself a versatile antidote from a whole bunch of ingredients. It protected him from all kinds of toxins and poisons. It is also known that its mixture worked on others as well, as it was a widespread and reproducible drug in ancient Roman and Greek antiquity, as evidenced by the records of doctors and scientists. But such an important technological progress was completely lost in history.

8. Ski resort on the Chacaltaya glacier

Once the highest mountain resort in the world, the ski resort on the Chacaltaya Glacier in Bolivia was more than just a stunning attraction that people have sadly lost. He was also one of the earliest victims of climate change. Located at an altitude of 5,421 meters, the resort has hosted professional skiers from all over the world, providing them with unrivaled views of the surrounding mountains.

However, in 2009 the glacier disappeared and the resort had to be closed completely. According to numerous studies carried out on the glacier during this time, the region experienced an increase in temperature of 0.5 degrees Celsius from 1976 to 2006, which ultimately led to the disappearance of the glacier.

9. Stradivari violins

Opinions about who makes the best musical instruments vary among musicians depending on the instrument and what is meant by “best”. Different tools are good for different purposes, and it is difficult to identify the best manufacturers in the world. But this does not apply to violins. It is unanimously recognized that the best violins were made by Antonio Stradivari, an Italian master of the 17th and 18th centuries. No one has been able to reproduce or even understand the production process of Stradivari violins. The surviving copies are in private collections and are sold for incredible money.

Some scholars speculate that the woods used by Stradivari were "special" due to the mini ice age in Europe at the time, which is why they are so superior to any other violins. But no one will ever know the exact reason for their uniqueness, which was a closely guarded family secret.

10. Advanced sustainable agriculture

Sustainable agriculture is all the rage these days, and for good reason. Many of today's agricultural practices are devastating to the environment and making them 100 percent environmentally friendly is too expensive and time-consuming. But civilizations in the past have figured out how to grow food without destroying the environment. The Aztecs had uniquely designed farms called chinampas (or floating gardens). Due to the fact that these farms were built on the slopes of the mountains, and also equipped with a complex drainage system, they were never flooded, and also they always retained water without any forced irrigation.

The Aztecs also planted willows along the edges of farms, whose roots protected the soil from erosion. Such systems fell into disuse as soon as the area began to be colonized as the Spaniards did not understand the Aztec system and introduced their own farming methods in the region. Despite numerous attempts by scientists to understand how these terraces worked, they could not be reproduced.