I think it stems simply from a (possibly willful) misinterpretation in pop culture. Instead of reporting that "we don't know how they made this amazing (for its

I think it stems simply from a (possibly willful) misinterpretation in pop culture. Instead of reporting that "we don't know how they made this amazing (for its time) material" they reported that "we don't know how to make it" and it gives rise to further fantastical hypotheses, culminating with ancient aliens or something along those lines.