The Great Wall of China Is Held Together with Sticky Rice
A close-up of ancient Great Wall stones with a faint rice grain texture visible in the mortar between them
Workers in the Ming Dynasty mixed sticky rice soup with slaked lime to create an incredibly strong mortar. The amylopectin in the rice created a compound more durable than pure limestone mortar.
Why Itβs Interesting
This ancient composite material was so effective that some sections have survived earthquakes and are still standing after 600 years. Modern scientists have confirmed it is stronger than many contemporary building materials.
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