Asphalt starts out as a very hot goo. As it cools, it becomes hard (so we can drive on it), but also, somewhat brittle. Potholes begin as tiny cracks in the hardened surface of asphalt, due to traffic vibrations and the weight of heavy vehicles. These cracks allow water and ice to penetrate the asphalt surface and accelerate its degradation. The end result? Potholes. A materials science team at a university in the Netherlands has come up with a solution: ...