Wed Oct 31, 2012, 10:14 AM

Key test for re-healable concrete (BBC)

Last edited Wed Oct 31, 2012, 12:33 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

By Paul Rincon
Science editor, BBC News website

Experimental concrete that patches up cracks by itself is to undergo outdoor testing.

The concrete contains limestone-producing bacteria, which are activated by corrosive rainwater working its way into the structure.

The new material could potentially increase the service life of the concrete - with considerable cost savings as a result.

The work is taking place at Delft Technical University, the Netherlands.

It is the brainchild of microbiologist Henk Jonkers and concrete technologist Eric Schlangen.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20153309

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4 replies	Author	Time	Post
Key test for re-healable concrete (BBC) (Original post)	eppur_se_muova	Oct 2012	OP
link not working for me	Soylent Brice	Oct 2012	#1
Fixed now -- thanks. nt	eppur_se_muova	Oct 2012	#4
Is there anything that bacteria cannot do?	longship	Oct 2012	#2
I'm loving my bacteria right now.	tridim	Oct 2012	#3

Response to eppur_se_muova (Original post)

Wed Oct 31, 2012, 10:26 AM

Soylent Brice (8,129 posts)

1. link not working for me

Keeps taking me to a Google defamation lawsuit story.

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Response to eppur_se_muova (Original post)

Wed Oct 31, 2012, 11:01 AM

longship (17,565 posts)

2. Is there anything that bacteria cannot do?

I've listened to every Skeptics Guide to the Universe podcast. On their weekly game Science or Fiction, the quirky and amazing things that bacteria can do comes up regularly. I am never surprised when the bacteria items end up being science.

Here's another amazing bacteria fact:
A majority of your body mass is not human; it's bacterial. You couldn't live without these guys.

Key test for re-healable concrete (BBC)

1. link not working for me

4. Fixed now -- thanks. nt

2. Is there anything that bacteria cannot do?

3. I'm loving my bacteria right now.