Leonardo da Vinci's wood charring method predates the Japanese practice of Yakisugi. Research published in Zenodo reveals this surprising discovery. The Italian Renaissance polymath wrote about the protective benefits of charring wood over a century before Yakisugi techniques were codified in Japan.
Yakisugi, a Japanese architectural technique, involves charring wood to protect it from the elements. It gained popularity in bioarchitecture for its ability to prolong wood's lifespan. Written records of Yakisugi date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Leonardo's notes, however, suggest he understood the benefits of this process much earlier.
This finding highlights Leonardo's forward-thinking approach to material science. It also raises questions about the potential cross-cultural exchange of knowledge during the Renaissance. Experts are now re-evaluating Leonardo's notebooks for further insights into his understanding of applied sciences.
Leonardo da Vinci was a prolific inventor and artist. His notebooks contain designs for various technologies, including flying machines and advanced weaponry. Only a fraction of his 13,000 pages of notes have survived.
Researchers plan to further analyze Leonardo's writings on material preservation. They aim to uncover more details about his charring methods and their potential applications. This could lead to new sustainable building practices inspired by historical techniques.
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