Scientists replaced 40 percent of cement with rice husk cinder, limestone crushing waste, and silica sand, giving concrete a rubber-like quality, six to nine times more crack-resistant than regular concrete. It self-seals, replaces cement with plentiful waste products, and should be cheaper to use.

[u/mvea]

https://newatlas.com/materials/rubbery-crack-resistant-cement/

[u/MaryDesiree86]

This is the same idea behind hempcrete, right? I thought archaeologists in Rome some time ago analyzed their remaining standing structures/buildings and found that it was basically this same recipe except made with hemp husks/fibers. Rice is cool, hemp would be more beneficial for overall environmental reasons and be equally cheap.

[u/SteamedHamSalad → u/MaryDesiree86]

Out of curiosity, why would hemp be better than rice from an environmental standpoint?

[u/WormwoodandBelladona → u/SteamedHamSalad]

Hemp =\= Rice Husk Cinders/Ash rice husk ash is a silicious pozzolan from burning rice husks, hempcrete is an insulating material where the hemp fibers are not burnt