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The soil battery is one of dozens of 'adventurous' projects that have just been granted €17 million from the UK government.

<strong>Other lives</strong>: Secretary of the World Disarmament Campaign who helped develop the musical Peace Child

More recently, a group called Geoheal, led by Cardiff University in Wales, is evaluating if similar products can be used in a more targeted manner for stone.  “Stone and geological materials are by nature bioreceptive,” Michael Harbottle, professor of geoenvirnonmental engineering at Cardiff, told Horizon Magazine. “The bacteria we have used can happily live in such environments and lead to new mineral formation, as long as they have access to water, oxygen, and nutrients.” Early tests at Tintern Abbey in Monmouthshire, Wales, built in 1131, showed the paste did improve the structur...

Stone and concrete structures with the ability to heal themselves in a similar way to living organisms when damaged could help to make buildings safer and last longer. Over time the weather, vibration, ground movements and general wear and tear can take their toll on the masonry and concrete used in buildings. But keeping buildings in a good state of repair can be expensive and difficult. Hairline cracks and other damage below the wall surface can be hard to detect. With large numbers of historic buildings and ageing infrastructure, Europe faces an enormous task keeping its buildings in a g...