Geotechnical engineer and assistant professor Idil Akin from Washington State University became fascinated with how kangaroo rats can build burrows which withstand harsh climates for generations. How, with such a simple material like soil, could they make such durable structures that could withstand dry climates, humidity fluctuations, and flash flooding? Through her research into these animals, Akin learned that kangaroo rat burrows were hotspots for microbes. She discovered that the rats stored the microbes in their cheeks and on their feet and then deposited them throughout the burrows, leading to a thriving microbial community. Akin, along with a team of collaborators from different disciplines, is now in the process of studying how these microbial communities affect the structural integrity of the burrows. Their research will involve taking microbes from kangaroo rat burrows and growing them in sandy soil. The new microbe and soil mixture will then be tested for its strength as well as mechanical and hydraulic behavior while being subjected to different weather conditions.
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