[sudo-discuss] Yo Biohackers: civil engineering apps incl. self-repairing concrete

YOs- Biohackers take note: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20130520-greening-the-cities-of-tomorrow/all One of the applications that could go online sooner than later is self-repairing concrete. This makes use of bacteria and a food source, mixed into the concrete, to catalyze reactions that seal and bond cracks in the concrete over the lifespan of the structure: http://www.raeng.org.uk/international/activities/pdf/frontiers_engineering_… The above PDF is a power-point presentation and doesn't include the details of the types of bacteria and food sources used, but a keyword search of the author may yield results. This stuff is probably patented like crazy, but last I checked, it's OK for people to experiment with patented tech on their own, so long as they aren't selling it to others. Self-repairing concrete could be highly useful in the Bay Area, as it would seal small cracks formed during smaller earthquakes, maintaining structural integrity of buildings against larger quakes that we know are coming (e.g. 30% of a 7.0 on the Hayward Fault over the next couple of decades). Biohackers could get involved in the process of getting these new materials approved in CA, performing independent tests, and advising building owners of their options for new construction, foundation replacement, etc. This also has potential for do-it-yourself projects for home improvement, such as walkways, where the main advantage is improved longevity of the work. -G