SMALL SCIENCE WILL BRING BIG CHANGES TO ROADS

Nanotechnology, which involves creating new molecules and substances from scratch, has now entered the realm of highway, road and bridge construction. The Federal Highway Administrations (FHWAs) Advanced Infrastructure Research is a program that explores how nanotechnology can be used for the building of roads and bridges. For instance, the FHWA is looking into the use of Smart Aggregates as wireless sensors embedded in concrete or soil. Much of the work done in the program involves studying concrete at a nanoscale. In the future, nanotechnology could lead to bridges that adjust their shape to control movement caused by winds and to potholes that repair on their own.