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The ancient traditions reveal an astonishing understanding of chemistry.
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The long-bladed katana swords, famously used by Japan’s samurai, are still produced today by licensed craftsmen using traditional techniques. The methods are centuries old, but as BBC Future Now recently discovered, scientists are now exploring whether this steelwork could also aid the design of future space probes aiming to remove material from asteroids. View our gallery below to see the incredible work that goes into the manufacture of these weapons.
