In London, Researchers from King’s College London, Swansea University, and collaborators in Chile has developed a self-healing roads concept that leverages biobased spores. Specifically, the discovery addresses the pervasive issue of potholes, which cost U.S. drivers approximately $3 billion annually.
The method involves organisms that reverse cracking in bitumen, the sticky substance used in asphalt that hardens when exposed to oxygen. Using machine-learning techniques, they were able to develop resilient biobased spores infused with recycled oil-based “rejuvenators” that are released when asphalt begins to crack—effectively “healing” the road.
“Just as trees and animals naturally heal their wounds, our goal is to create asphalt that can self-repair, enhancing road durability and minimizing the need for pothole repairs,” said Dr. Francisco Martin-Martinez, a computational chemist at King’s College London.