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I sense a new explanation for Spiderman's webs on the next reboot. But seriously, are we anywhere close to using this stuff for human benefit? Or near learning
by delinka 10y ago
I sense a new explanation for Spiderman's webs on the next reboot.
But seriously, are we anywhere close to using this stuff for human benefit? Or near learning how these worms do what they do? This sounds fabulously awesome.
- joekrie 10y agoYou beat me to the Spider-Man reference.
- ge96 10y agoSpace elevator! Monopolize space
- civilian 10y agoSilk reinforced with carbon nanotubes still isn't strong enough for a space elevator :'(
- andai 10y agoHow about carbon nanotubes reinforced with carbon nanotubes?
- mickronome 10y agoGluing the tubes together is one of the biggest hurdles, mainly because the individual tubes aren't long enough. If we could make 30cm-1m long tubes (of the strongest kind) we could do with essentially sparsely interlink the tubes, esentially having the nanotubes become part of the matrix. This would also give us freedom in choosing the rest of the matrix for the other properties needed. So while not exactly nanotube reinforced nanotubes, pretty darn close :)
- samstave 10y agoI think that term is called weaving
- ge96 10y agoCarbon nanotube crocheting
- Symmetry 10y agoNot on Earth certainly. But I'm pretty sure you could build a space elevator down to the Moon with this stuff.
- shagie 10y agoA lunar space elevator ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_space_elevator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_space_elevator ) can be constructed out of kevlar today.
- samstave 10y agoignoring the UFO aspect of this, maybe this tech would help a 12 mile long tether from breaking as the 1996 nasa version did... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUEFcSesD-w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUEFcSesD-w
- ge96 10y agoNot saying I support the idea of monopolizing space, but whoever builds one first with that savings in price... Imagine if McDonalds found a special ingredient from space to add to their burgers and McDonalds is the one who builds a space elevator. Hahaha Alright I'll see myself out.
- colechristensen 10y agoA company called Bolt Threads raised a $50M round this year. It looks like they're going to miss their 2016 release of spider silk clothing, but it also seems like a release date and real product are right around the corner. https://boltthreads.com/2016/05/11/bolt-raises-50-million-and-forms-partnership/ https://boltthreads.com/2016/05/11/bolt-raises-50-million-an...
- Retric 10y agoSort of. Spider silk is made from both a chemical process and physical manipulation by spinnerets. We can make the chemicals but they are not nearly as strong without the spinnerets thus clothing not body armor.
- mungoid 10y agoThis sounds like the perfect opportunity for some researchers to create nanobots or something to act like spinnerettes. Wonder if there has been any such thing?
- wuschel 10y agoDon't forget other ventures e.g. * http://www.spiber.se/ http://www.spiber.se/
- the8472 10y agoThey already tried it with spiders: https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1504/1504.06751.pdf/ https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1504/1504.06751.pdf/ The problem is spiders are difficult to farm, unlike silkworms.
- samstave 10y agoafter reading the wikis about golden orb spiders today -- this makes sense. The guy who made that amazing garment from 1.2 million Golden Orb spiders [0] was hand harvesting the thread in a really primitive way...[1] Humans have been harvesting silkworm thread for ages, so we probably have much better methods of mass harvest. [0] http://i.imgur.com/y82WBEz.jpg http://i.imgur.com/y82WBEz.jpg [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u-g0OiYWOQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u-g0OiYWOQ
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]