You already know that people are 3-D printing houses and offices. What other new material marvels are there in the world of construction? 

Self-healing Concrete
You read that right. Engineers looked to God’s design in the human body. God created our skin to heal minor cuts. Engineers add certain types of bacteria to concrete mix. The bacteria can sit around doing nothing for decades. But when a crack occurs and water seeps in, the bacteria jump into action. They consume nutrients added to the concrete. They produce limestone. It fills in and seals the cracks. 

Transparent Wood 
Take thin strips of wood. Treat and compress them. The cell walls of plants contain lignin. It makes them rigid. Replace lignin with polymers that make the wood transparent. Transparent wood doesn’t conduct heat like glass does. It could replace glass for windows. It could keep room temperatures more stable. Researchers tested how easily materials break under pressure. Transparent wood is three times stronger than transparent plastic. It’s about 10 times tougher than glass. 

Artificial Spider Silk 
God made spiders to be some of the best builders. Spider silk is strong. It can stretch many times its length before it breaks. Researchers from Cambridge, England, created materials that mimic spider silk. They came up with hydrogel. It is 98% water. Hydrogel forms strong fibers as water evaporates from it. Artificial spider silk is stronger than steel. It can be used in making acoustic building tiles. These panels absorb sound waves. They are used in places like auditoriums, classrooms, offices, and libraries.