Silkworms that eat carbon nanotubes and graphene spin tougher silk • Hacker News Board

Re: Silkworms that eat carbon nanotubes and graphene spin tougher silk

#71

Post by ekianjo » Sun, Oct 09, 2016, 8:10 AM UTC

hinkley wrote: post #57

ekianjo wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Carbon based expression is misleading as usual. Organic based life (i.e. based on carbon structure chemistry) is more accurate.

Cyanide is carbon based. Kills you quick. Aromatic hydrocarbons like benzene will kill you slower. It's like the "all natural" misnomer. Coral snake venom is all natural, but I don't want any, thank you.

SO what? Most of the life on earth is still carbon-based, as in with carbons at the centre of all essential molecules in biology. What kills you is irrelevant to make that statement true or false.

Re: Silkworms that eat carbon nanotubes and graphene spin tougher silk

#72

Post by jamesbercegay » Sun, Oct 09, 2016, 5:28 PM UTC

This is one of the most interesting articles I have read in a while. Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to see the practical applications of this other than some of the "type" ideas we have had such as a space elevator. That is an awesome idea and kinda cool too (just so much science goes into that idea that I feel giddy because it is fun) But, I think it just is a grain of sand on the beach of possibilities.

Re: Silkworms that eat carbon nanotubes and graphene spin tougher silk

#73

Post by ge96 » Mon, Oct 10, 2016, 9:54 PM UTC

cpeterso wrote: post #66

ge96 wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not 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.

cf. The Stuff !

The Right Fries haha

Re: Silkworms that eat carbon nanotubes and graphene spin tougher silk

#74

Post by Zancarius » Fri, Oct 21, 2016, 5:07 AM UTC

roflchoppa wrote: post #58

Zancarius wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Completely off-topic, but it's funny you mention this. A few weeks ago, I was looking at one of the stores I buy various odds and ends from that I can't find locally (fairly mainstream food-related shop that's known for selling nuts and dried fruits) and ran into cricket flour [1]. I suppose I shouldn't be overly surprised, but it's certainly unexpected. The allergy warnings are particularly interesting (shellfish).…

its pricy tho, at $15/lbs it might be good as an additive, but i dont think it makes a good base for the whole cookie? Perhaps added protein to protein bars? Im gonna grab some when i find a seller that i have a gift card to.

Oops. Sorry. Get busy and forget the check replies.

I haven't used it, but yeah, it's better left as an additive, and it's definitely pricey. Adding it to protein bars is a fantastic idea. Nuts' products are a bit on the expensive end sometimes, but they sometimes carry hard to find items in bulk. (Although I'd probably avoid them for less commonly purchased items; sometimes they're stale!)