Self Repairing Buildings

If you were a fan of Battlestar Galactica this concept won't sound new.

From MSNBC...

Researchers have designed bacteria that can produce a special glue to knit together cracks in concrete structures.

The genetically modified microbe has been programmed to swim down fine cracks in concrete and once at the bottom it produces a mixture of calcium carbonate and a bacterial glue. This glue combines with the filamentous bacterial cells, ultimately hardening to the same strength as the surrounding concrete and essentially "knitting" the building back together.

"Around 5 percent of all man-made carbon dioxide emissions are from the production of concrete, making it a significant contributor to global warming," said joint project instructor Jennifer Hallinan. "Finding a way of prolonging the lifespan of existing structures means we could reduce this environmental impact and work towards a more sustainable solution."

Hallinan continued: "This could be particularly useful in earthquake zones where hundreds of buildings have to be flattened because there is currently no easy way of repairing the cracks and making them structurally sound."