SMRTR Science & EngineeringMar 31, 2026Interesting Engineering

Engineers are teaching concrete to heal itself, and it’s working

SMRTR summary

Engineers at the University of Bath have successfully developed self-healing concrete that uses dormant bacteria to automatically repair cracks by producing limestone deposits. When concrete cracks and water enters, encapsulated bacterial spores activate and metabolize nutrients to create calcium carbonate bridges that seal the damage, potentially reducing the UK's £40 billion annual infrastructure repair costs.

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