“Self-healing roads” sounds like a throwaway line in a sci-fi movie, but apparently, it's close to reality for almost 1M potholes in the UK.
By adding bacteria to the roads, cracks formed by heat, cold, and traffic are filled with a binding substance created by the microscopic bros.
The bacteria are packed into capsules and added to the cement mix. When the resulting road is damaged, the capsules break open, and the rubber cement-spitting lifeforms get to work.
The US and UK are testing the tech alongside other methods. They will implement it more broadly if the tests work out and funding is available.