Wil Srubar News

Seaweed-based ingredient can help turn dirt into 3D-printed walls

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 15:16:57 +0000

Seaweed-based ingredient can help turn dirt into 3D-printed walls Jeff Zehnder Mon, 06/29/2026 - 09:16

An ingredient that gives ice cream a creamier texture could make natural earthen materials like clay and sand easier to 3D-print into durable structures, according to new research led by scientists at the ��ý��.

The discovery could help turn construction waste into building materials with lower environmental impact.

“From termite mounds to adobe buildings, humans and animals have been building with earth since the dawn of time,” said Wil Srubar, professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering. “But there hasn’t been a lot of science to how earthen builders design the materials. So, we wanted to use scientific knowledge and tools to understand it.”

In nature, termites construct towering mounds. Wasps build intricate nests, and honeycomb worms create reef-like structures along coastlines. Rather than relying on cement, these organisms use biopolymers, which are large biological molecules that act like glue, often found in saliva, to bind natural materials like soil and clay together.

Inspired by nature’s designs, Srubar and his team, including researchers at Columbia University in New York, set out to investigate which biopolymer could bind earthen materials and make them 3D-printable.

The team tested five biopolymers, including legume-derived guar gum, locust bean gum and cassia gum. These compounds are commonly found in food products like salad dressings to keep oil and water from separating. They also studied sodium alginate, derived from seaweed, and xanthan gum, produced by fermenting sugar.

The researchers found that locust bean gum could hold earthen materials tightly together by binding soil particles into a stronger network. But that same effect made the material harder to push through a 3D-printer nozzle.

Sodium alginate, often found in ice cream and used to make spherical foods like popping boba, produced the opposite effect. Instead of functioning like a glue, the polymer changed the electrical charges on clay particles, causing them to repel one another, similar to how the same poles of two magnets push each other away.

As a result, adding sodium alginate to clay and sand produced materials that allowed the particles to suspend in a stable mixture while still flowing smoothly through a 3D printer.

Left: Earthen Rituals, exhibited at the 2026 Venice Architecture Biennial, is constructed with 3D-printed earthen materials. (Credit: Alessandro Terranova); Middle: Details of the earthen bricks. (Credit: Alessandro Terranova); Right: A vertical vessel with earthen materials. (Credit: Lola Ben-Alon and the Natural Materials Lab)

Then the team searched for the best formulation. To natural earth excavated from a granite quarry near Golden, Colorado, they added just 0.12% of sodium alginate, which produced a material that was both strong and printable. It could withstand 25% more pressure than earth without the biopolymer and could be printed 33% faster.

Using the formula, the team printed an 8-millimeter-thick (0.3-inch) wall that leaned outward at dramatic angles. They found that the structure could remain stable even when tilted to 60 degrees, far steeper than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

While the current study focuses primarily on improving the printability of earthen materials, Srubar said scientists could use the same framework to test other biopolymers for enhanced properties such as strength and durability.

“There are some good indoor environmental benefits of having earth in a building,” said Samuel Armistead, a research associate in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering. “It can regulate indoor moisture and uptake air pollutants. It can also serve as a thermal insulator, keeping things cool in the summer and warm in the winter.”

Construction projects often generate large amounts of excavated soil when workers dig foundations, basements, or parking structures. Much of that material ends up in landfills.

“Our study suggests that there are ways to reuse waste earth material onsite, and that could largely reduce the environmental footprint of construction,” Armistead said.

Because clay and sand are widely available, Srubar said the team's findings could help builders around the world to tap into local resources.

“Clay and sand are among the most abundant building materials on Earth,” Srubar said. “The science and engineering we're developing can be applied almost anywhere in the world.”

Rebecca Mikofsky at CU ��ý��, and Columbia University scientists Yierfan Maierdan, Olga Carcassi, Shiho Kawashima and Lola Ben-Alon also contributed to the work.

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Light without electricity? Glowing algae could make it possible

Jeff Zehnder — Thu, 07 May 2026 14:56:44 +0000

Light without electricity? Glowing algae could make it possible Jeff Zehnder Thu, 05/07/2026 - 08:56

Imagine a sea of glowing blue lights pulsing to the beat of the music. But instead of glow sticks filled with toxic chemicals, the luminescence comes from living algae, shimmering on demand.

In a new study published May 6 in Science Advances, CU ��ý�� researchers and collaborators unveil a new technology that could make it possible. They’ve successfully turned on the “light switch” in algae and kept them lit up using simple chemical solutions. The finding opens the door for future technologies such as autonomous robots that can operate in dark environments and living sensors for water quality.

“This project was a moonshot idea,” said Wil Srubar, professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering. “I was curious if we could create a world in which we don’t use electricity but rather use biology to produce light. This discovery really paves the way for engineering other living light materials and devices.”

In the natural world, a wide range of animals, from fireflies to anglerfish and even certain mushrooms, produce their own light, a phenomenon known as bioluminescence. In the deep ocean, as much as 90% of creatures may be able to glow and glitter through chemical reactions inside their cells.

Pyrocystis lunula, a type of bioluminescent algae, is one of the organisms that emit an icy blue glow sometimes seen in ocean waves. Subsisting only on seawater, sunlight and carbon dioxide (CO₂), these photosynthetic organisms flash when they are agitated by crashing tides or passing boats, for example.

But those flashes last only milliseconds. Srubar and his team wondered if they could keep the lights on with chemistry instead. Previous research has suggested that exposure to different chemical compounds could activate P. lunula’s bioluminescent reaction. So the team exposed the algae to an acidic solution with a pH of 4, similar to that of tomato juice, and a basic solution with a pH of 10, comparable to mild soap.

They found that both environments could trigger light production in P. lunula. In the acidic condition, the algae could stay aglow for as long as 25 minutes, with light appearing bright and concentrated. In the basic condition, the glow was more diffused and short-lived.

Acidic (top) and basic (bottom) environments trigger different bioluminescent behaviors in algae. (Credit: Giulia Brachi)

“It was a very exciting moment when we found the right chemical stimulant that allowed the light to stay on for a long time,” says Giulia Brachi, the first author and research associate in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering. “This is the first time we have figured out how to sustain luminescence.”

To turn these glowing algae into usable materials, the researchers embedded them into a naturally derived hydrogel, a type of water-based gel material. They then used 3D printing to shape the material into structures and shapes, from a crescent pattern to a CU Buffalo logo.

By exposing the structures to the acidic or basic solution, they prompted the P. lunula inside to emit light, illuminating the entire structure in a blue glow.

Inside these printed structures, the algae remained alive for weeks. The acidic condition worked best, with P. lunula in these 3D printed structures retaining 75% of their brightness even after four weeks.

The findings could have wide applications beyond making eye-catching designs. These living materials could someday help light up autonomous robots for deep-sea or space exploration without the need for batteries.

Next, the team is exploring whether P. lunula may respond to other chemicals. If so, they could also serve as a tool for water quality monitoring and light up when toxins are present.

Beyond their ability to light up spaces, P. lunula also offers an environmental benefit. Because these algae are photosynthetic, they convert carbon dissolved in seawater into energy.

“We’re storing carbon while we’re producing light, whereas conventionally, we emit carbon to light up spaces,” Srubar said.

And yes, future rave scenes could someday glow with light powered by living algae.

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Wil Srubar named American Ceramic Society fellow

Jeff Zehnder — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 21:48:35 +0000

Wil Srubar named American Ceramic Society fellow Jeff Zehnder Thu, 07/03/2025 - 15:48

Professor Wil Srubar has been named a fellow of The American Ceramic Society (ACerS), one of the highest honors for researchers in cement chemistry. Fellows of the American Ceramics Society are recognized for their contributions to the ceramics, cements and materials science community.

“Being named a Fellow of the American Ceramics Society is incredibly humbling,” Srubar said. “I’m honored to be included among such an accomplished group of peers who have advanced the field through research, innovation and service.”

Srubar is the principal director of the Living Materials Laboratory, where an interdisciplinary team develops nature-inspired concrete alternatives that can be produced without fossil fuels or significant carbon emissions.

He recently served as the conference chair for the 15th Advances in Cement-Based Materials, held June 11-13 at the ��ý��. Srubar also previously held several ACerS leadership roles, including cements division chair, chair-elect and secretary.

He will be recognized on Sept. 29 at the ACerS Honors and Awards Banquet during the society’s 127th annual meeting to be held in Columbus, Ohio.

“I’m grateful to the mentors, collaborators and students who’ve shaped my journey and made this recognition possible,” Srubar said.

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CU ��ý�� researchers harness nature to create living optical materials

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 18:40:56 +0000

CU ��ý�� researchers harness nature to create living optical materials Jeff Zehnder Tue, 01/21/2025 - 11:40

CU ��ý��’s Living Materials Laboratory played a key role in studying tiny bioglass lenses that were designed to form on the surface of engineered microbes, a scientific breakthrough that could pave the way for groundbreaking imaging technologies in both medical and commercial applications.

The project, led by the University of Rochester and published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was inspired by the enzymes secreted by sea sponges that help them grow glass-like silica shells. The shells are lightweight, durable and enable the sea sponges to thrive in harsh marine environments.

“By engineering microbes to display these same enzymes, our collaborators were able to form glass on the cell surface, which turned the cells into living microlenses,” said Wil Srubar, a coauthor of the paper and professor of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering and the Materials Science and Engineering Program. “This is a terrific example of how learning and applying nature’s design principles can enable the production of advanced materials.”

Professor Wil Srubar

Using imaging and X-ray techniques, CU ��ý�� researchers analyzed the silica, also known as “bioglass,” and quantified the amount surrounding different bacterial strains. The CU ��ý�� researchers demonstrated that bacteria engineered to form bioglass spheres contained significantly higher silica levels than non-engineered strains. Combined with optics data, the results confirmed that bacteria could be bioengineered to create bioglass microlenses with excellent light-focusing properties.

Microlenses are very small lenses that are only a few micrometers in size—about the size of a single human cell and designed to capture and focus or manipulate light into intense beams at a microscopic scale. Because of their small size, microlenses are typically difficult to create, requiring complex, expensive machinery and extreme temperatures or pressures to shape them accurately and achieve the desired optical effects.

The small size of the bacterial microlenses makes them ideal for creating high-resolution image sensors, particularly biomedical imaging, allowing sharper visualization of subcellular features like protein complexes. In materials science, these microlenses can capture detailed images of nanoscale materials and structures. In diagnostics, they provide clearer imaging of microscopic pathogens like viruses and bacteria, leading to more accurate identification and analysis.

The University of Rochester contributed to this report.

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Building Blocks

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 19:30:55 +0000

Building Blocks Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 07/31/2024 - 13:30

Prometheus Materials eyes expansion through increased production

Traditional cement production is responsible for about 7 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it a significant contributor to climate change.

So faculty at CU ��ý�� started developing a greener alternative. A Department of Defense-funded project launched in 2016 led to the creation of an eco-friendly cement with a minimal carbon footprint, emitting little to no carbon dioxide and recycling 95 percent of the water used in production.

In 2021, they made the move to commercialize the technology as Prometheus Materials. Founded by Associate Professors Sherri Cook, Mija Hubler and Wil Srubar of civil, environmental and architectural engineering, along with Jeff Cameron of biochemistry and CEO Loren Burnett, the Colorado-based company produces bio-concrete from the biomineralization of blue-green algae in a natural process similar to that which creates sea shells and coral reefs.

While initially focused on research and development, the company has since entered a commercialization phase, exploring the establishment of new facilities to transition from a single production line to multiple lines and to increase production, Hubler said.

“We’re in flux,” she said. “We’re dreaming bigger.”

Product development

Hubler said the “most exciting part” is that Prometheus Materials has successfully scaled production and launched a commercial product for the construction industry.

Initially, the team focused on assessing structural performance, particularly compressive strength. That led to the development of their inaugural product — the ProZero Bio-Block Masonry unit.

After constructing a pilot wall, the researchers put their ears to it and were met with a remarkable silence. Further tests confirmed the product’s efficacy in preventing sound from bouncing off or attenuating through walls. This discovery paved the way for another product, ProZero Sound Attenuation units. Potential uses include sound panels in large conference rooms and classrooms.

The researchers also evaluated the product’s suitability for pedestrian and parking surfaces, analyzing its response to environmental moisture. The outcomes were positive, prompting the development of a third product.

Proof points

Mija Hubler with the Prometheus algae-growing system.

But consumers can’t yet walk into a hardware store and buy a ProZero product off the shelf.

While Prometheus Materials has performed some pilot studies with large companies like Microsoft and has discussed potential applications for its products in Microsoft’s offices and warehouses, it will take years before the products will be available in places like Home Depot.

Hubler emphasized that the construction industry prefers “tried and true” materials and is cautious to adopt new ones. Larger construction firms play a crucial role in pioneering and embracing innovative products, serving as trailblazers to introduce these newer products into the market.

But there are multiple reasons why it’s the right time for the company to expand operations.

“The construction industry, building owners and developers are paying a lot more attention to carbon emissions, and our materials have reduced emissions,” Srubar said. “[Another] driver is the trend toward nature-based materials that don’t contain any ‘red list’ chemicals in them.”

Cook added that many companies have ambitious corporate sustainability goals but lack practical means to achieve them. Prometheus Materials provides a tangible avenue for these companies to start realizing their sustainability objectives.

Srubar echoed the strategic importance of working with these firms, whose teams of architects and engineers collaborate in designing and engineering structures using innovative materials.

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CU ��ý�� engineer selected as 2023 Schmidt Science Polymath

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 23:35:15 +0000

CU ��ý�� engineer selected as 2023 Schmidt Science Polymath Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 11/14/2023 - 16:35

Wil Srubar, associate professor in civil, environmental and architectural engineering and the Materials Science and Engineering Program, has been named to the 2023 cohort of the Schmidt Science Polymath Program.

Srubar was chosen from more than 58 applicants who outlined research ideas in STEM fields that represent a substantive shift from their current portfolio.

“I am beyond humbled and grateful for being selected to receive the Schmidt Science Polymaths Award. It truly is a career-defining honor,” Srubar said. “The award not only provides financial support for my work, but also enables me to approach it with an unencumbered, creative freedom to pursue high-risk, high-reward ideas. It’s such an incredible opportunity.”

In Srubar’s Living Materials Lab, his team develops innovative building materials, including a concrete-like material made from algae that can self-heal and is more sustainable than traditional concrete manufacturing.

With this new grant, Srubar is looking to further redefine the boundaries of living architecture — both on Earth and beyond.

“I am specifically interested in species of photosynthetic algae and other multifunctional, symbiotic organisms and their abilities to help us define and establish new paradigms for next-generation living — and carbon sequestering — materials for terrestrial and extraterrestrial built environments,” he wrote in his proposal.

Srubar and the other “polymaths” will receive $500,000 a year for up to five years to help support their research.

"We are pleased to bring together a group of determined researchers, each pursuing new research directions to tackle pressing global challenges," said Stuart Feldman, chief scientist of Schmidt Futures. "From improving brain imaging and addressing gender bias in medical research, to developing sustainable construction materials and advancing regenerative agriculture, these Polymaths' interdisciplinary work is poised to drive transformative advancements in diverse fields.”

About the Polymath Program

The Polymath Program is designed to push the boundaries of scientific and disciplinary limits by promoting the exploration of fresh methodologies and approaches in STEM to unlock breakthroughs and expedite progress in scientific discoveries. In receiving this award, the cohort receives support as they boldly transition from their established fields and enter into new disciplines or methodologies, bringing with them their expertise to conduct pioneering research. Through this model, the Polymaths’ work plays a vital role in advancing knowledge, fostering innovation, and exploring emerging technologies to test unconventional theories.

About Schmidt Futures

Founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt, Schmidt Futures is a philanthropic initiative that finds and connects talented people across fields, generations and geographies to harness their collective skills for public benefit.

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Forbes spotlights CU ��ý�� green concrete spinout

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 17:51:02 +0000

Forbes spotlights CU ��ý�� green concrete spinout Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 09/18/2023 - 11:51

Forbes Magazine is highlighting major research conducted by CU ��ý�� faculty into green concrete.

Cement is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, responsible for about eight percent of global output.

Prometheus Materials, a company co-founded by Wil Srubar and Mija Hubler, professors in the Materials Science and Engineering program, is commercializing an algae-based form of concrete developed from research at CU ��ý��.

This new concrete that can be grown in a laboratory and has significant potential to drastically reduce environmental pollution caused by construction activities around the globe.

Read the full article at Forbes...

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Wil Srubar named as nominee for 2023 Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:25:28 +0000

Wil Srubar named as nominee for 2023 Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 07/25/2023 - 09:25

Associate Professor Wil Srubar has been nominated for the 2023 Pritzker Environmental Genius Award for his research re-imagining sustainable building materials.

Srubar is part of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering and the Material Science and Engineering Program at CU ��ý��. His lab conducts major research into biomimetic and living materials that have the potential to drastically reduce environmental pollution caused by construction activities around the globe.

Srubar joins a list of candidates – all under the age of 40 – working to advance environmental causes around the world. The roster includes leaders in fields such as sustainable design, wildlife law, shark conservation and carbon markets. In the coming months a committee will choose three finalists for the award. Then judges will select a winner to be announced at an Oct. 26 ceremony. Winners receive $100,000 and finalists take home $5,000 – made possible by a gift from the Anthony and Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation.

Srubar said being included in such an impressive cohort of nominees is a true honor.

“For my living materials research and related entrepreneurial endeavors to be recognized in this way is both humbling and exhilarating,” he said. “Winning the award would bring world-renowned recognition and legitimacy to the idea that nature-based material solutions are critical to decarbonizing the construction industry and combatting the consequences of climate change.”

Srubar has been recognized for his research in a variety of venues recently. He was named to the Top 25 Newsmakers list by Engineering News Record and was the American Ceramic Society’s Cements Division Early Career Award winner in 2023. Previously, he was selected as the BioEnvironmental Polymer Society Outstanding Young Scientist in 2021 and won a prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER award in 2020. To date, his laboratory has received over $12 million in sponsored research funding through the U.S. National Science Foundation, Air Force Research Laboratories, ARPA-E and DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office.

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Engineering News-Record names Wil V. Srubar "Top 25 Newsmaker"

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 22:04:51 +0000

Engineering News-Record names Wil V. Srubar "Top 25 Newsmaker" Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 02/13/2023 - 15:04

Associate Professor Wil V. Srubar was named a "Top 25 Newsmaker" by editors at the Engineering News-Record for his passion about creating "living" building materials, beginning with a greener masonry block.

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Srubar's work recognized with Breakthrough Energy Foundation grant

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 19:09:58 +0000

Srubar's work recognized with Breakthrough Energy Foundation grant Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 10/11/2022 - 13:09

The Breakthrough Energy Foundation has announced research by Wil Srubar is being recognized with a fellows award to support the development of cutting-edge climate technologies.

The foundation, a climate and sustainability organization created by Bill Gates, seeks to promote net zero energy solutions.

Srubar, an associate professor who has conducted major research into biomimetic and living materials, has developed an algae-based form of concrete, which has significant potential to drastically reduce environmental pollution caused by construction activities around the globe.

Concrete accounts for over seven percent of the world's annual greenhouse gas emissions.

The fellowship award is for his lab and spinout company, Minus Materials.

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Wil Srubar News

Seaweed-based ingredient can help turn dirt into 3D-printed walls

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Light without electricity? Glowing algae could make it possible

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Wil Srubar named American Ceramic Society fellow

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CU ������ý���� researchers harness nature to create living optical materials

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Building Blocks

Prometheus Materials eyes expansion through increased production

Product development

Proof points

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CU ������ý���� engineer selected as 2023 Schmidt Science Polymath

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Forbes spotlights CU ������ý���� green concrete spinout

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Wil Srubar named as nominee for 2023 Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award

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Engineering News-Record names Wil V. Srubar "Top 25 Newsmaker"

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Srubar's work recognized with Breakthrough Energy Foundation grant

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CU ��ý�� researchers harness nature to create living optical materials

CU ��ý�� engineer selected as 2023 Schmidt Science Polymath

Forbes spotlights CU ��ý�� green concrete spinout