Overview

• Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a technique that uses mild electrical currents to turn marine sand into a rock-like substance, reducing erosion risks.
• Inspired by the natural processes of shell-dwelling marine life, the method leverages dissolved minerals in seawater to create a natural cement between sand grains.
• The process is eco-friendly, cost-effective, and reversible, with the potential to protect coastlines for decades.
• Current approaches to coastal protection, such as sea walls and cement injections, are expensive and often ineffective in the long term.
• Field tests are planned to validate the laboratory results and explore practical applications on actual coastlines.