Dutch scientist created bacteria that repair cracked buildings by turning cracks into stone, making concrete heal itself and saving billions in repair costs

Dutch microbiologist Professor Henk Jonkers holds a sample of self-healing concrete, an innovation that uses bacteria to repair cracks automatically. Concrete is the backbone of modern civilisation, supporting everything from homes and skyscrapers to bridges, tunnels and dams. Yet even this remarkably strong material has a costly weakness. Tiny cracks inevitably develop over time because of ageing, weather, heavy traffic and earthquakes, allowing water to penetrate and corrode the steel reinforcement inside. Repairing damaged concrete infrastructure costs governments and businesses billions of dollars every year. What if these structures could repair themselves just as human skin heals after a cut? That once far-fetched idea became reality when Dutch microbiologist Professor Henk Jonkers developed self-healing concrete using bacteria that produce calcium carbonate, commonly known as limestone, enabling cracks to seal themselves naturally and potentially extending the lifespan of buildings while reducing maintenance costs.Who is the Dutch scientist behind self-healing concrete?The breakthrough was pioneered by Professor Henk Jonkers, a microbiologist at Delft University of Technolog...