What is Digg?45 Comments
- xpose, on 04/30/2008, -4/+19Finally, maybe a material that can be used as a condom for Superman.
- TheHappyRobot, on 04/30/2008, -2/+17I researched silk production for my degree, in case you are wondering why we can't harvest silk from spiders in the same way as we do from silkworms, it is mainly because spiders need too much space to be produced in large quantities and different parts of the web are made from different types of silk, meaning the consistency of the harvested silk would be far too irregular.
It is exciting that artificial spinnerets have been produced, as I recall this was the main factor in preventing artificial silk production. - elliotys, on 04/30/2008, -4/+15No longer will you have to be bitten by radioactive spider to swing from buildings.
- cnot3, on 04/30/2008, -1/+12I'm still going to use all natural spider silk.
- DiggMasterJ, on 04/30/2008, -0/+9Spiderman doesn't swing that way.
- Ramble, on 04/30/2008, -0/+9Can't believe this hasn't gotten more attention, this could have massive implications. Materials could be overhauled, bigger longer heavier suspention bridges, lighter faster cars, etc. the possibilities are huge.
Also, this technology could most likely be adapted for carbon nanotubes, as soon as there is a reliable way to make long ones cheaply then materials science will really take a big step forward. - santaliqueur, on 04/30/2008, -2/+9Everything MUST be about the war in some way or another? Did you click on this link and think to yourself "How can I twist this into some lame attack at the US"?
- ByteGuerilla, on 04/30/2008, -0/+6In terms of density, yes. It's about as strong as steel, but spider silk is four or five times less dense for that strength, so if you have some spider silk and steel at the same density, the spider silk is four or five times as strong.
- mf89, on 04/30/2008, -0/+6Why doesn't he just ask Spiderman.
- smeaty, on 04/30/2008, -1/+7I could have sworn I read another article recently talking about a glass fiber that matches the strength of spider's silk.
- Amadeus2490, on 04/30/2008, -1/+6Well, it sure beats that Kryptonite condom!
- santaliqueur, on 04/30/2008, -1/+5I just read that a strand of spider silk long enough to circle the globe would weigh less than 16 oz. Whoa.
- Matri, on 04/30/2008, -1/+5Thinking, thinking... Nope. A spiderweb bomb makes no sense.
- benitojuarez, on 04/30/2008, -1/+4I remember seeing a show on discovrey or the science channel, it may have been one of the beyond 2000 shows, they had implanted the silk making gene into a goat and the goat produced silk from its udders, they then used this silk to daisy chain five cars together and hung them from a crane, amazingly enough it held the weight of all 5 cars....oh they mention it in passing in the article. I admit it, i skimmed.
- Mohdoo, on 04/30/2008, -4/+7Attempting to fight the bury brigade. All comments have been thumbs upped!
- adrenaline33, on 04/30/2008, -0/+3I prefer Ironweb spider silk
- cigawoot, on 04/30/2008, -0/+3What does that have to do with the article?
- MasterTroll, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2hmm.. seems like it's a trap.
- Frostek, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2Wouldn't they tend to eat their neighbours also?
- Frostek, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1Clothes are quite likely. Also footwear is going to end up much more hard-wearing with a material this good. Synthetic spider-silk is going to bring lots of great items within reach.
- a1532b, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Unless you are SPIDERMAN!!!
- Cruelapollo, on 04/30/2008, -1/+2Because Spider-man isn't real.
/sarcasm - Hassassin, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1Oh hell yeah, make me a web blaster and get me a bite from a radioactive spider... NOW!
- hendrixlives64, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1"...super strong medical sutures, bullet proof vests and biodegradable fishing lines..."
WELL THANK GOD FOR THOSE BIODEGRADABLE FISHING LINES - TheHappyRobot, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1There is that yes, but you do see communities of spiders in one location, each with their own 'web-site'. If you consider their web not only to be a net to catch prey with but also as an extension to their physical vibratory senses, as long as no spider enters their area they probably wouldn't pay that much attention to each other. Except when they need to relocate or rebuild of course. It depends on species specific behaviour too.
- logan074, on 04/30/2008, -0/+0Feel free to return all of our inventions to us from the mighty Netherlands.
- Hangly, on 04/30/2008, -2/+2Now Kal Vas Flam will be that much cheaper to cast.
When are the synthetic black pearls coming out? - aguynamedjoe36, on 04/30/2008, -6/+5i bet they could use it for tires. tires seem like they could use some innovation.
- rockus, on 04/30/2008, -3/+2...and one day, one of the scientists get his fingers nicked by the device and turns into the Synthetic Spider Man!
- Shuukyoku, on 04/30/2008, -3/+1Which leads me to believe that someone needs to build me some freaking web slingers.
- mfc5200, on 04/30/2008, -3/+1Spider Silk? Worst way to die man, watch how this spider just sprays the scorpion with silk and immobilized him, owned him...
http://www.livevideo.com/video/06AE76DF50894BC49FB ... - Borgcube636, on 04/30/2008, -4/+2You know, they could always log on to WoW and farm it themselves.
- BertEatsDirt, on 04/30/2008, -3/+1Roll out the Silksteel Sentinels, Colonel Santiago's recon rovers will be no match for our defenses now!
- LemonDefragger, on 04/30/2008, -3/+1i said by the way baby what's your name
said i go by the name of lois lane
and you could be my boyfiend you surely can
just let me quit my boyfriend called superman
i said he's a fairy i do suppoose
flyin through the air in pantyhose
he may be very sexy or even cute
but he looks like a sucker in a blue and red suit
i said you need a man who's got finesse
and his whole name across his chest
he may be able to fly all through the night
but can he rock a party til the early light
he cant satisfy you with his little worm
but i can bust you out with my super sperm
/Sugarhill Gang - woofers07, on 04/30/2008, -4/+2your first statement is not a question, and no, no they won't.
- AzleGamer, on 04/30/2008, -4/+1Go spidey-web go!
- banksey, on 04/30/2008, -6/+3This is badass, stronger than steel right?
- killerknives, on 04/30/2008, -4/+1I'm patenting spidercondoms as fast as I can!
- ryananger, on 04/30/2008, -7/+2I wonder if this stuff will be able to be made into clothing??? Everyone will have bulletproof clothes.
- inactive, on 04/30/2008, -8/+2neat!
- jesuswuzanalien, on 04/30/2008, -13/+4At last, I can jizz web!
- Azulth, on 04/30/2008, -18/+6The US will probably make a bomb or something out of it.
- jojo77, on 04/30/2008, -16/+3Yay another reason to have cool wars!
- Dylson, on 04/30/2008, -23/+5***** THE RIAA!!!!
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