🔬Science
🕒 13 hrs ago

ETH Zurich's Living Concrete: Cyanobacteria Build Carbon-Negative Skyscrapers

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Image & Source: ethz

ETH Zurich's living concrete integrates photosynthetic cyanobacteria, enabling structures to absorb CO2 and grow over time. This innovation addresses 'how can buildings reduce carbon emissions' and 'what are sustainable building materials,' offering a self-sustaining, carbon-negative solution.

Beyond carbon capture, this bio-hybrid material enhances structural integrity as cyanobacteria produce calcium carbonate, a natural cement. This development prompts questions like 'can bacteria strengthen concrete' and 'what are the benefits of living building materials,' showcasing a fusion of biology and engineering.

Remarkably, a 3D-printed 'pineapple' structure with embedded cyanobacteria grew and sequestered carbon over 60 days, turning greener as the bacteria thrived.

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