Self-Healing Concrete: Modern Bacterial Solutions and Ancient Roman Innovations

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:36:00 +0200

Modern researchers have developed self-healing concrete by embedding bacteria capable of surviving harsh conditions along with their nutrients inside the mix. These bacteria remain dormant until cracks form and water seeps in, at which point they activate, consume their food, and produce calcium carbonate that seals the fissures from within. This process helps prevent corrosion and structural weakening without requiring manual repairs. While this innovation sounds futuristic, ancient Romans achieved a similar effect two thousand years ago in structures like the Pantheon. Their concrete mixture included deliberate fragments of quicklime. When water entered cracks, these fragments hydrated and reacted chemically to form calcium carbonate, naturally filling the gaps over time. The Pantheon’s massive dome, built in the second century under Emperor Hadrian, continues to stand without modern reinforcements, thanks in part to this reactive property combined with pozzolanic ash. Roman engineer