Clever ancient chinese

[child of Thor]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4555235.stm

Intrestingly they were using diamonds as polishing material thousands of years before anyone else. Even more interesting is the bit in the article that says:

"However, even with the best modern polishing technologies available, the research team could not achieve a surface as flat and smooth as that on the ancient axe. "

How is that possible?

[Space05us]

[General Ludd]

Re: Clever ancient chinese

Originally posted by child of Thor

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4555235.stm

How is that possible?

Tehcnology is no substitute for skill.

[Kuciwalker]

[JohnT]

Re: Clever ancient chinese

Originally posted by child of Thor

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4555235.stm

Intrestingly they were using diamonds as polishing material thousands of years before anyone else. Even more interesting is the bit in the article that says:

"However, even with the best modern polishing technologies available, the research team could not achieve a surface as flat and smooth as that on the ancient axe. "

How is that possible?

It's hyperbole. Think of the strict tolerances needed to polish a piece of glass for, say, the Hubble telescope... deviances of something like 1/25,000th of an inch was enough to throw the thing into spherical aberration.

[child of Thor]

So either its aliens(good pic space), incredibly skilled craftsmen, or just that they didnt get NASA to try it?

I think we should just treat the chinese with more respect - they are ancient and clever

What was the result of that crazy diamond skull they found in south america or someplace? was that proven to be a fake - cause they said the same thing, like how we didn't have the technology to produce such an artifact now.
Maybe its the same type of thing?

[Space05us]

The Chinese are all short, except Yao, but hes an alien. Thier women are the only thing I respect, that and the siize of thier army. And chicken fried rice is my favorite food, but I dont know that that is even Chinese.

[Winston]

I do hope everyone takes good care not to leak this information to the Chinese. Their national chauvinism is bad enough already.

[Ecthy]

Originally posted by Winston
I do hope everyone takes good care not to leak this information to the Chinese. Their national chauvinism is bad enough already.

[JohnT]

So either its aliens(good pic space), incredibly skilled craftsmen, or just that they didnt get NASA to try it?

You think that some archeologists are well-versed in modern polishing techniques, or do you think they went to the local Home Depot, got some expensive sandpaper, and after five minutes of rubbing said "****, this is impossible - and this is the finest sandpaper available at the HD!"

[Lul Thyme]

I concur with JohnT. Journalists always say things like that and they dont know anything.
There is no way ancient chinese could polish something with the precision of the hubble telescope just to give an example.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by JohnT

So either its aliens(good pic space), incredibly skilled craftsmen, or just that they didnt get NASA to try it?

You think that some archeologists are well-versed in modern polishing techniques, or do you think they went to the local Home Depot, got some expensive sandpaper, and after five minutes of rubbing said "****, this is impossible - and this is the finest sandpaper available at the HD!"

And what's so special about NASA that they can find higher grade sand paper?

[Kuciwalker]

They receive billions of dollars in federal funds?

[DaShi]

Originally posted by Winston
I do hope everyone takes good care not to leak this information to the Chinese. Their national chauvinism is bad enough already.

Why? The Chinese should be encouraged to be proud of legitimate accomplishments.

[Odin]

Originally posted by General Ludd


And what's so special about NASA that they can find higher grade sand paper?

I don't think they use sandpaper to polish glass.