Five students at Case Western Reserve University want to use their knowledge to fill in some gaps for the rest of us.

The team blended high science with a few pantry items to invent a new way to patch those pesky potholes that erupt again and again this time of year. They believe their product -- basically, a bag of goo with some rather amazing abilities -- can temporarily fill car-cracking craters until road crews can make a long-lasting fix.

The product is being billed as an alternative to the current "cold patch" repair, where workers shovel a stone-and-tar mixture into potholes and hope that the material holds up. It often doesn't, given the pounding of traffic and the nasty weather that gnaws on our roadways.

That quick deterioration forces patching crews to deal with the same potholes again and again and again, wasting money and manpower.

"There are millions of dollars spent every year making these temporary repairs because they don't last long," said Mayank Saksena, a second-year Case student in biomedical engineering and economics who helped brainstorm the idea. "There's a need for something better."

Which brings us to the goo.

The slop is a non-Newtonian fluid that behaves as a liquid but turns rigid when pressure is applied. The recipe is under wraps -- a patent is pending, after all -- but it's an environmentally friendly concoction that's resembles pancake batter and is so safe you could eat it. (You wouldn't want to, though. It looks pretty icky.)

The fluid fills a bag made from a fiberglass weave coated in silicone. It's a pliable material that's tough enough to withstand the tortures of traffic.

Instructions for use takes nine words: Drop the bag in the hole and leave it. The liquid in the pliable sack conforms to the shape of the pothole while filling the void within a few seconds. The goo stiffens the instant a car rolls over it, preventing the tires from dropping into the hole. It returns to liquid form after the vehicle passes.

So far, the bag has held up well when subjected to on-the-road challenges near campus. A more extensive field test may take place next week on the streets of East Cleveland. The city's service director, Ross Brankatelli, offered to meet with Saksena and the rest of the team after The Plain Dealer contacted him about the invention.

Other Case students involved in the project include Nich Barron, Noah Gostout, Curtis Obert and Chimadika Okeye.

"Tell them they can come over here and help us out," Brankatelli said. "Let's see how it works."

The bags -- in theory, at least -- could stay out for months and be reusable. Different sizes could be offered, as not all potholes are created equal. Pricing remains a long way out, but the goal is for them to be relatively cheap to purchase if they are produced.

The students entered their patching idea in a science and engineering competition sponsored on campus by Saint-Gobain, a French materials company that emphasizes innovation. The concept and design earned the team a second-place award in the semi-finals of the contest in February. Final judging is scheduled to take place next month.

Meanwhile, the team continues to refine the product. "We still have details to work out," Saksena said, "but we're optimistic. This could help resolve a big problem."

And that could make us all winners.