@sambentley: These tiles help turn flat seawalls into mini reefs, helping protect the coast and bring marine life back! They're called ECOBLOX tiles, and they're being tested in Florida right now! See traditional seawalls are smooth concrete deserts, that eliminate habitats and don’t allow organisms to grow that naturally filter water and support biodiversity. But these tiles are covered in grooves, crevices, and water-holding pockets that mimic natural rocky shorelines, creating perfect spots for barnacles, oysters, and sponges to attach and grow. The textured patterns also help to absorb wave energy instead of reflecting it back, which reduces erosion and makes coastal areas more resilient. Plus, they create shaded zones that stay cooler, helping marine life cope with rising sea temperatures! Led by researchers Sara Pezeshk and Shahin Vassigh at Florida International University, the 3D-printed concrete tiles can be retrofitted to existing seawalls to transform them into thriving underwater habitats. Globally, we've lost 85% of oyster reefs, and these creatures are nature's water filters. For example one adult oyster can clean up to 190 liters of water every single day! So ECOBLOX tiles offer a way to restore this lost biodiversity while still protecting our coasts, and they could be adopted to create safer coastal cities around the world. Would you like to see these on seawalls near you? #goodnews #conservation #TikTokForGood

Sam Bentley

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Region: GB

Thursday 15 January 2026 17:42:16 GMT