"The Physics Behind Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Construction"
Physicists believe they have solved the mystery of how the Ancient Egyptians built the pyramids by conducting experiments based on a wall painting in an ancient tomb. The painting depicted men moving a statue with ropes attached to a sledge, while water was poured over the sand in front of the sledge. The physicists found that adding the right amount of water to the sand reduced sliding friction, making it easier to move objects. This discovery challenges previous beliefs that the pouring of water was purely ceremonial, and suggests that wet sand is about twice as stiff as dry sand, making it easier for the Egyptians to move heavy objects during pyramid construction.