Sand hardened by bacteria could create roads without using oil

Next Big Future ^ | November 1, 2010 | Brian Wang

[decimon]

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The team says that mixing common sand – one of the most abundant resources on the planet – with a solution containing the microorganism Bacillus Pasteurii could result in a cementing process that turns the mix into biologically-engineered hardened sandstone.

After the two are mixed, the solution is sprayed on yet another layer of sand. The microbes act again, solidifying the layer underneath, and resulting in a tough, road-worthy material that can sustain heavy traffic.

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[decimon]

My first question: Is this cheaper than asphalt roads?

That's the claim. But I'd guess that the cost of road maintenance is mostly in labor.

[Sacajaweau]

The USA military imported camels at one time, too. That didn’t work out to well.

[justsaynomore]

YES! So true. We have some in our yard. It took us 10 years but we have beat it back to our property line.

We have made our peace with Kudzu. We eat the leaves while they are young (cook them like spinach). I also made some bent willow furniture with the vines :)