eurekalert.org — Soil bacteria could be used to help steady buildings against earthquakes, according to researchers at UC Davis. The microbes can literally convert loose, sandy soil into rock. When a major earthquake strikes, deep, sandy soils can turn to liquid, with disastrous consequences for buildings sitting on them.
Feb 21, 2007 View in Crawl 4
hippymickFeb 22, 2007
i meant plant after youve built (assuming the root system wouldnt make it fall down - i do admit this is an unresearched theory) skyscrapers.....pics - it happens<a class="user" href="http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_MY_P_F/0_my_photographs_hong_kong_photo_10.htm">http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_MY_P_F/0_my_photographs_hong_kong_photo_10.htm</a>
paullevFeb 22, 2007
good and not surprised to hear this - it's about time the lowly bacterium got its due! <a class="user" href="http://www.paullevinson.net/archives/hail_the_mighty_lowly_bacteriu.phtml">http://www.paullevinson.net/archives/hail_the_mighty_lowly_bacteriu.phtml</a>
scrimaxincFeb 22, 2007
I've said it before, and I'll say it again.................silly hippy.
disclaimerFeb 22, 2007
Regular? Why would I wanna lose my super powers?
payndzFeb 22, 2007
Huh, maybe Masamune Shirow's Dominion - where the city's buildings were grown as a form of giant genetically-engineered fungus, explaining their rounded appearance - isn't too far-fatched after all...
hidamaFeb 23, 2007
We finally figured out know how the aliens made the pyramids.
hippymickFeb 23, 2007
f**k am i slow
brenbartFeb 23, 2007
It would be interesting to see if there was a way to use this or some similar method to make a more durable stone than sandstone. Then you might be able to replace a traditional concrete foundation for a building such as a residential home without any excavation. Simply pound some pipes down into the ground where you would put footings and inject the bacteria and nutrients into the soil.Another thought would be to use this method to add a protective layer around the foundation/basement of an existing home. It'd be a bitch if you ever needed to excavate though!