Imagine living in a house where the walls can fix tiny cracks on their own, without any tools or repair work. It sounds like something from a science movie, but this idea is slowly becoming real. Scientists are now creating living bricks using fungus and bacteria.
These bricks are not dead like regular concrete. Instead, they stay alive for weeks and may help buildings repair themselves naturally. This new discovery could change how homes, roads, and buildings are made in the future—while also helping the planet.
What Are Engineered Living Materials?
Engineered living materials are special building materials that contain living cells, such as bacteria or fungi. These cells are mixed with solid materials so the final product can grow, sense damage, or repair itself.
How Are They Different from Normal Materials?
- Normal concrete is dead and fixed
- Living materials are active and responsive
- They can heal cracks, reduce waste, and lower pollution
Earlier versions of living materials were soft and jelly-like, which made them unsuitable for construction. But new research has taken a big step forward.
How Fungus and Bacteria Create Living Bricks
Researchers at Montana State University developed a new type of brick by combining fungus roots and stone-forming bacteria.
Step 1: Growing the Fungal Structure
- Scientists used a fungus called Neurospora crassa
- Its root-like threads, known as mycelium, were grown inside molds
- This created a lightweight, sponge-like block, similar to bone structure
Step 2: Turning It into Stone
The fungal blocks were soaked in a liquid containing:
- Urea
- Calcium
- A harmless bacterium called Sporosarcina pasteurii
This bacterium breaks down urea and produces calcium carbonate, the same mineral found in shells and limestone. This process hardens the fungal structure and turns it into a strong, stone-like brick.
Key Features of Living Bricks
| Feature | Living Bricks | Traditional Concrete |
|---|---|---|
| Self-repair | Yes | No |
| Living microbes | Yes | No |
| Carbon emissions | Very low | Very high |
| Recyclable | Easy | Difficult |
| Weight | Lightweight | Heavy |
Most importantly, both the fungus and bacteria stayed alive for over four weeks, giving the material time to repair cracks or respond to damage.
Why This Matters for Climate and Construction
Concrete’s Hidden Climate Cost
Concrete is used everywhere, but making cement releases huge amounts of carbon dioxide. The cement industry alone causes 7–8% of global CO₂ emissions.
Construction Waste Is a Big Problem
In the United States:
- Over 600 million tons of construction waste were produced in one year
- Much of it ends up in landfills
How Living Bricks Help
- Grown at low temperatures
- Made using natural ingredients
- Can be regrown or recycled
- Reduce the need for heavy transport
This makes living bricks a powerful option for eco-friendly construction.
Are Self-Repairing Walls Ready Yet?
Not yet. These living bricks are still being tested in labs.
Current Limitations
- Not as strong as concrete in all cases
- Only tested for a few weeks
- Not proven in extreme weather
However, other teams are already testing self-healing concrete and biocement using similar bacteria. In Europe, scientists are exploring fungal walls that can sense changes in their environment.
Where Could Living Bricks Be Used First?
Experts believe these materials will first appear in:
- Lightweight wall panels
- Temporary shelters
- Remote locations
- Sound-absorbing tiles
- Crack-healing wall blocks
As strength improves and costs drop, living bricks may slowly blend into everyday buildings.
Living bricks are not science fiction anymore. By combining fungus, bacteria, and minerals, scientists have shown that it is possible to grow building materials that stay alive and repair themselves.
While these bricks are not ready to replace concrete completely, they offer a cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable future for construction. If research continues at this pace, future homes may quietly fix themselves while helping reduce pollution and waste—one living brick at a time.
FAQs
What are living bricks made of?
Living bricks are made using fungus roots (mycelium) and stone-forming bacteria that create natural minerals.
Can living bricks fully replace concrete?
Not yet. They are still weaker than concrete and need more testing before large-scale use.
Are living bricks safe for homes?
Yes. The bacteria used are harmless soil microbes, but long-term safety tests are still ongoing.
Source: DanKaminisky
Source Link: https://dankaminsky.com/living-bricks-self-repairing-building-material/