Lab-Tested 'Living Sand' Shows Slight Water Retention Boost in Controlled Conditions

Khalifa University researchers report microbial sand that holds 25.5% water versus 20.2% for untreated sand in lab trials—though field viability remains unproven.

Khalifa University researchers created a sand composite using Komagataeibacter medellinensis bacteria and Schizophyllum commune fungi grown within desert sand from Al Ain, UAE. In lab tests, this 'living sand' retained 25.5% water after 6 centimeters of sand column exposure, compared to 20.2% for untreated sand. The study notes this represents a slight relative increase in water retention capacity—described by researchers as 'slight'—with no field trials, crop growth tests, or long-term desert durability assessments conducted. Water permeability dropped 28-fold when cellulose sheets were inserted between sand layers, but microbial growth required controlled water, nutrients, and oxygen, with uneven top sections in bacterial samples. This lab-based approach could theoretically reduce water scarcity costs in arid regions if scaled, but real-world desert conditions, wind erosion, and long-term stability remain unverified. The team disclosed a pending patent for the method, though current applications are limited to controlled environments.

Source: ScienceAlert