Growing Bricks From Bacteria

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We’ve talked about innovations in architecture and design in the past, and in this episode, we look at construction materials themselves and innovative technologies like growing bricks from bacteria or fungus! Technologies like this could have fantastic applications here on earth, primarily in reducing the energy consumption and carbon emissions for heavy construction, but think about the applications in places like Mars, where, let’s be honest, a good brick is hard to find.

How do you think we could harness biogenic materials to make human life better? Let us know in the comments below.

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Pretty good application of biotechnology. I hope something like this becomes mainstream in my lifetime.

Maphisto

This is a great film – thank you. I have been reading about paving roads using the bacterium, Bacillus Pasteurii as our community has about 2 miles of dirt road that needs to be paved. Conventional methods are way too expensive, but turning local aggregate into a calcite pavement could be within our reach. We need to find someway to propagate this bacteria in a large enough volume.

dennisbosworth

Your vids are the favorite part of my day I love hearing about how the world is changing so drastically

charltonallen

Everything should have some sort of bio building element. In one of your recent podcasts, you mentioned a modification to the Arthur C Clark quote: "Any high enough for of technology is indistinguishable from nature" This line should guide us as we become more technologically advanced. It's clear that they way we have been doing things isn't working, we need to integrate our technologies into nature if we want to keep our technological achievements train going.
On that line, did you know that a dude just succesfully demonstrated how to use mushroom for battery anodes?

OctavianDynamite

An innovative way to combat the challenges faced by mankind for the carbon footprints. I humbly salute the video with all dedication. Many may be interested in further research in the areas of bio materials for enhanced future of us. I would like to be part of tiny contribution. The question is, can we culture these bacteria and conditions in which they survive are the most pretty concerns I express. Experts who are seeing this comments are requested to continue this game of biomaterials.
Regards Shiva Prakash M V Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, MITS, Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh, India.

shivaprakashmv

dude you are way under subscribed, your videos are so great

FlyingCowFX

I did a science project like this with mushroom mycelium as an insulator, this kind of stuff gets me very excited for we might live in the future.

niccudrat

If the bacteria could be used to make bricks that have huge insulating properties, that would be awesome. Also, have the bacteria function in the waste from the martian astronauts would be awsome since that would mean precious water isn't wasted on the bacteria.

leebannister

Video idea for future

Seasteading/ building artificial islands/ land reclamation please.

anon

If you could build those bricks on-site, you'd cut down on transportation costs as well as labor, making it cheaper to build housing in poverty-stricken areas.

caspian

I suggest creating bacteria that grow a heavy calcium shell that could turn into building material. OR genetically modify a plant that grows and it's husk turns into a substance like straw but many times denser. So that it could be used in place of wood for plywood.

nathansmith

Two things.

First: we have no idea what kind of catastrophic effects could result from releasing Terran bacteria in a Martian environment. It could devastate bacteria living on Mars, drastically change the course of evolution there, or even mutate into something devastating to Earth.

Second, omg did you just explain the bricks in the Mushroom Kingdom? Depending on the density of the myselium (forgive me, I'm not sure how to spell it) we could even figure out if Mario could break them with his head and still avoid brain damage.

DStrormer

Only using a small amount of concrete forms. Creating a new house one wall at a time. First would be a basement. Then slime forms to make a sandstone siding.
Concerns: will there be a cold joint?
Any reaction with regards?
What about color? What materials will give colors with out effecting the hardening process.
Will rain effect the processing?
What ratio of bacteria to sand?
How much per is needed? Can one person provide enough?
What's the shelf life on pee? In an aquarium it turns to nitrite within 2-3 weeks??

MusicEchos

My question is what are your thoughts about going to venus instead of mars? Especially considering the effects of low gravity on the human body (considering that mars is only .4 earth gs) but off the surface of venus there is breathable air(with sulferic masks) and .9 earth gs

justinvanvliet

Sounds good and fine but how lasting would these materials are? That's something that also need looking into. I mean, it sounds great to "grow" your house but not so great if that house will fall apart easily through climate.

DarknessGuard