Researchers have come up with another way to mix biology and construction, and it’s changing how we design and build sustainable structures. Scientists at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology developed a material made from sand and bacteria that can repair small cracks on its own, extend the lifespan of buildings, and reduce maintenance needs. This process also cuts waste and lowers the environmental impact of construction.
According to SciTechDaily, the key is cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, which use photosynthesis to produce the common mineral calcium carbonate. When added to sand-based mixtures, they create a curable material that strengthens itself while absorbing carbon dioxide.
Featured in a Cambridge University Press journal, Research Directions: Biotechnology Design, this method uses “additive co-fabrication,” a process wherein the bacteria and sand are layered and built up using advanced tools such as robots to create structures.
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