Living bricks' that could reproduce could reduce the carbon footprint of construction

A simple blend of sand, gelatin and bacteria produced' living bricks ' matching cement-based mortars' strengths that could eventually reduce demand worldwide for carbon intensive, select building material, cement. These bricks can even replicate.

An inoculum is applied here to the mortar to cure cracks with the biomineralising bacteria. The cement ecosystem does not, however, lead to organic growth. In this system, bacter....