16. Living Concrete
What It Does: Building Material That Heals Its Own Cracks
Expected Rollout: In Initial Stages
Living concrete was developed by scientists, not born naturally, even though something very similar can be seen in the composition of seashells. The concrete is able to heal itself by allowing carbon dioxide to “be absorbed from the atmosphere”, causing the regeneration of the concrete.
Living Concrete @minhcecilio / Pinterest.com
The living variety of concrete contains photosynthetic bacteria and gelatine to go along with the water, cement, and sand, of which its predecessor (regular concrete) is composed. Using living concrete in urban development should, hypothetically, help to create sustainable cities on a scale that was previously thought impossible.