New Invention: Spider Silk Socks

Monday, December 10, 2007

Japanese researchers have created a pair of comfortable yet durable socks from spider thread and silk. Geneticist Masao Nakagaki created spider silk consisting of 10 percent spider proteins and 90 percent silk by injecting genes from a golden orb weaving spider into silkworms.

Posted by rcade at 11:46 AM | 19 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry

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Admin's note: Participants in the discussion of this weblog entry should note the site's moderation policy.

Can you run across the ceiling in them?

Posted by northguy3 at 2007-12-10 11:42 AM | Reply | Flag:

Will they be for sale on the web?

Posted by member2586 at 2007-12-10 11:47 AM | Reply | Flag:

FF, Northguy!

Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2007-12-10 11:47 AM | Reply | Flag:

northguy3 , yes, but only if you have eight legs, or at least four legs and four arms.

Posted by member2586 at 2007-12-10 11:48 AM | Reply | Flag:

Spider Silk Socks--

Buy seven get one free.

Posted by k_g_beekeeper at 2007-12-10 11:52 AM | Reply | Flag:

You are all funny.

Posted by Sniper at 2007-12-10 12:39 PM | Reply | Flag:

Member: I bet that Indian girl is kicking herself now.

Posted by northguy3 at 2007-12-10 12:46 PM | Reply | Flag:

Spider Pig, Spider Pig, Does whatever a Spider Pig does.

Posted by COMMONSENSE at 2007-12-10 01:27 PM | Reply | Flag:

Buy eight pairs and get a free DVD of "Arachnaphobia" to enjoy!

Spider Pig, Spider Pig, Does whatever a Spider Pig does.

Nice Simpsons reference, CS!

Funny *ahem* thread!

^_^

Be Well.

Posted by dethspud at 2007-12-10 01:30 PM | Reply | Flag:

Actually its spider goat. Spider DNA in goats milk.

Taste stringy!

Posted by STIRSUMUP at 2007-12-10 01:41 PM | Reply | Flag:

Four pairs of knitting needles at a time, they'll be whipping those things out in no time.

But, don't they need thumbs to knit?

Posted by morris at 2007-12-10 02:21 PM | Reply | Flag:

I for one welcome our new Spider-Moth overlords. ALL HAIL THE QUEEN SPIDER_MOTH!!!!

Posted by axe at 2007-12-10 02:22 PM | Reply | Flag:

And here I HATE Spiders with a passion! Indeed-I've killed every one of them I've ever come across.

Posted by frankf55 at 2007-12-10 03:01 PM | Reply | Flag:

AXE: You only thought you were joking!

www.local6.com

Posted by northguy3 at 2007-12-10 05:59 PM | Reply | Flag:

Frank55,

Have you ever encountered a Golden Orb Weaver? Those gals are 2 -3 inches legtip to legtip (the males are tiny) and are known for weaving the strongest known fiber. I have a couple dozen on my property and when you walk into a face full of one of their webs, you know it. That stuff is strong. They even catch small birds in those webs.

Too bad we can't duplicate the fiber. It is significantly stronger than kevlar or spectra. It is interesting that they are getting the silkworm larvae to spin a stronger version of silk by transplanting the genes from the spider.

I don't kill them, I prefer that they deal with the other flying bugs that like to munch on me. I do try to keep their webs in areas of the yard where I don't travel, though.

Posted by axe at 2007-12-10 06:06 PM | Reply | Flag:

www.rockthisway.de
This was fun when I was a kid.

Our son Bob encountered an interesting sort of spider in Iraq:
www.camelspiders.net

He took a video of "fight night" where his buddies rounded up a scorpion, a lizard (gecko?), a camel spider, many poisonous ants and some other critter... put 'em in a cardboard box at night and put a flashlight on them. Bob ran his camera for all the thrilling action.

Posted by OohRah at 2007-12-10 06:34 PM | Reply | Flag:

They were making woven spider silk gloves in Europe over a hundred years ago!!! Queen Victoria had a pair!

Posted by AntiCadillac at 2007-12-10 09:10 PM | Reply | Flag:

They were making woven spider silk gloves in Europe over a hundred years ago!!!

I think Morticia Addams wored a pair, too.

Posted by goatman at 2007-12-10 09:27 PM | Reply | Flag:

Axe -the golden orb weavers are absolutely spectacular....I came upon one recently and was completely besotted with the thing, they are the most wonderful creatures...

Posted by Litlebritdifrnt at 2007-12-10 09:35 PM | Reply | Flag: