Microscopic Guardians
Recently, a team of heritage scientists unveiled a hidden layer on the Great Wall of China: a ‘living skin’ of microscopic organisms that acts as a natural protective shield. This year’s study sheds new light on how nature helps preserve one of humanity’s most iconic structures.
What Is the Living Skin?
The living skin is a biofilm just fractions of a millimeter thick, composed of cyanobacteria, lichen and fungi. By forming a continuous layer over the weathered stone, it seals tiny cracks, repels water and neutralizes pollutants, slowing down erosion and decay.
Data-Driven Insights
- The layer averages 0.5 mm in thickness
- It reduces stone erosion rates by up to 30%
- Samples were taken from sections at Badaling and Mutianyu
Implications for Conservation
By studying this natural barrier, conservationists can explore biomimetic coatings that mimic the living skin’s properties. Such innovations could offer a low-cost, eco-friendly approach to preserving monuments not just in the Chinese mainland, but around the world.
A Call for Sustainable Heritage Management
As climate change and pollution threaten cultural sites globally, turning to natural defenses like the Great Wall’s living skin could shape the future of heritage conservation. Embracing biological solutions may be the key to keeping our history alive for generations to come.
Reference(s):
Great Wall's 'living skin' acts as natural protective shield
cgtn.com
