Concrete is the most commonly used building material in the world, but unfortunately the cement used to make it carries quite a carbon footprint. Now, scientists at the University of Tokyo have created a cement-free alternative that directly bonds sand particles together using a reaction between alcohol and a catalyst.

The researchers say that this new type of concrete could be more durable than the normal stuff against common foes like chemicals, temperature and humidity. It can also be used with a wider variety of aggregates, including sand of different particle sizes, and other materials that could expand where it might be used.