From the mud, straw, and gypsum mixtures of ancient Egypt’s monumental pyramids to the sophisticated underwater material employed by Roman engineers in iconic structures like the Pantheon, concrete has long symbolized civilization’s resilience and ingenuity.

Yet today, concrete finds itself in a paradoxical bind: The very material that allowed societies to flourish is also responsible for up to 9% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change, itself deeply rooted in fossil fuel use, presents humanity with an existential challenge if people seek to sustainably build the structures that support modern life—namely, new homes, highways, bridges, and more. Read more about the new material being designed by Penn engineers, materials scientists, and designers in Penn Today.