There is nothing more awe-inspiring than the sight of a city being built — or destroyed. And that's the point of the photographs in the Engineering News-Record's collection of the best photographs from last year. Check out some incredible shots of enormous machines, magnificent engineering projects, and the people who …

Imagine if bridges were made with cement that could repair itself in an earthquake. And ships were coated in a protective shell that could patch itself if damaged by debris. We're closer than you think. Here are two kinds of self-healing materials that could revolutionize the way we build cities and vehicles.

Giant structures reduced to rubble by disaster? You can't look away. Two engineering professors have created a great archive of disaster photos, along with lessons about what went wrong - and how to get it right next time.