61–70 of 84 posts
Strong enough for space elevator core?
cnvogel: it's assumed that materials with about 130 GPa of tensile strength would be needed for the "rope" of an space elevator
e12e: nanomagic spider silk: 5400 MPa (5.4 GPa)
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Who would have guessed Except for not being a dog, such a spider is anticipated in Goethe's little poem «Annonce» (Advertisement): A little dog is sought that never barked nor bit takes broken glass as feed leaves diamonds as - - (my own translation, but wouldn't be surprised if it has appeared in these words before)
Yeah, pretty good! Ein Hündchen wird gesucht, Das weder murrt, noch beißt, Zerbrochene Gläser frißt Und Diamanten scheißt.
chuckles to self
Are these strong enough to build a space elevator?
cnvogel: it's assumed that materials with about 130 GPa of tensile strength would be needed for the "rope" of an space elevator
e12e: nanomagic spider silk: 5400 MPa (5.4 GPa)
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Are you able to break their spidereb with your hands?
This isn't something I'd be willing to try, for a black widow web...
Yes, one can break its web with the hands, but not without a conscious effort.
Goes to show that us humans aren't the best at making everything. Wish I thought of this when studying nanotechnology in grad school.
We're not the best at making anything. We're pretty good at using things, though.
> exactly how the spiders incorporate carbon nanotubes and graphene flakes into their silk is not clear This confuses me. Surely they must've had some kind of hypothesis for this, or are they just going around spraying all kinds of creatures hoping they gain super-powers?
So change their diet, you change the thread...
Earlier quoted context omitted.
There's a lot of effort going into just that, though there are some stumbling blocks researchers are still working their way through before we start seeing production scaled up. http://news.discovery.com/tech/spider-silk-silkworms-genetic...
But how about just natural silk with carbon nanotubes? Sure spidersilk is "the greatest" -- but maybe nano-augmented regular silk is better than, well regular silk? [ed: insert dystopian sci-fi plot of scattered survivors of the nano apocalypse growing bullet proof vests from silk worms found in old industrial (nano)waste sites...]
Where do you think "natural silk" comes from?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
There's a lot of effort going into just that, though there are some stumbling blocks researchers are still working their way through before we start seeing production scaled up. http://news.discovery.com/tech/spider-silk-silkworms-genetic...
But how about just natural silk with carbon nanotubes? Sure spidersilk is "the greatest" -- but maybe nano-augmented regular silk is better than, well regular silk? [ed: insert dystopian sci-fi plot of scattered survivors of the nano apocalypse growing bullet proof vests from silk worms found in old industrial (nano)waste sites...]