Concrete That Heals Itself: How Nanoscience Is Poised to Rescue America's Crumbling Infrastructure
A new generation of self-healing nanomaterials — from microcapsule-laden polymers to vascular network composites — is moving from laboratory benches to real-world pilot programs across the United States. Backed by federal agencies including the Department of Transportation and DARPA, these technologies promise to autonomously repair structural damage before it becomes catastrophic. The science is maturing rapidly, but questions of cost, scalability, and deployment timelines remain central to the