Buildings need to be strong and although concrete isn’t a very pretty material, it is pretty tough. A new process using waste materials will make it a little tougher and a little bouncy to boot. The new “rubber” concrete will be able to take impacts better and last longer than traditional concrete.

There’s no rubber in the concrete. About forty percent of the mixture is made from rice husk cinder, limestone crushing waste, and silica sand. This new mixture is still solid and hard but it also gives it some, well, give. When this concrete takes and impact, it bounces back a bit which keeps it from cracking. The longer it can go without a crack, the longer it will last.

The mixture uses waste products from other manufacturing processes which should bring the coast down a bit and make it a bit more eco friendly. It’s still being experimented with but scientists are hopeful.