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Imagine their
enemy's surprise when the Chinese first demonstrated their
newest invention in the eighth century AD. Chinese
scientists discovered that an explosive mixture could be
produced by combining sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter
(potassium nitrate). The military applications were clear.
New weapons were rapidly developed, including rockets and
others that were launched from a bamboo tube. Once again,
the raw materials at hand, like bamboo, contributed ideas
for new technologies.
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