Bulletproof: Spider Silk to the Rescue

Scientists helping to make a bio-art installation have created a bulletproof skin.

Published

about 1 year ago

Categories

Science, Scientific Research, Health, Medical Research

Topics

Health

Tags

gun, gunfire, scientific research, scientist, skin, spider silk, silk, spider

Transcript

ScriptHEADLINE:Bullet proof: Spider silk to the rescue---------------------------------------CAPTION: Scientists helping to make a bio-art installation have created a bulletproof skin.(March 27) ----------------------------------------[Location - Date:] Netherlands[Source:] AP Television/VNR: JALIA ESSAIDI [VO:][VOICE-OVER]TRACK#1 WITH A PULL OF THE TRIGGER, A BULLET SPEEDS TOWARDS AN UNLIKELY TARGET... THE HOLY GRAIL OF PROTECTION: BULLET PROOF SKIN.SCIENTISTS AT THE DUTCH FORENSICS INSTITUTE ARE EXPEREMENTING WITH A MIXTURE OF SPIDER SILK AND HUMAN SKIN CELLS. THEY'VE CREATED A LATTICE THAT LOOKS AND BEHAVES LIKE HUMAN SKIN, BUT HAS AN ADDED BONUS.THE SKIN IS NEARLY INPENETRABLE. SO WHAT STARTED AS AN ART PROJECT IS SHAPING UP TO HAVE REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS.THE DISCOVERY COULD LEAD TO THE USE OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SPIDER'S SILK TO HEAL LARGE WOUNDS AND CREATE ARTIFICIAL TENDONS AND LIGAMENTS. AS FOR STOPPING BULLETS WITH YOUR BARE HANDS, DONT GET YOUR HOPES UP JUST YET. THIS BULLET IS BEING FIRED AT HALF SPEED. A FULL-SPEED SHOT WOULD PENETRATE THE BODY. STILL, THE SUPER-STRONG SKIN HAS LEFT SCIENTISTS CRAWLING WITH IDEAS, ALL THANKS TO THIS CRAWLER.[SIGOUT/REPORTER, LOCATION, ASSOCIATED PRESS](****END****) ANCHOR VOICE: -------------------------VIDEO PRODUCER: ---------------------------VIDEO SOURCE: -----------------------VIDEO APPROVAL: ----------------------------VIDEO RESTRICTIONS: ----------------------------------MARKET EMBARGO (S): --------------------------------SCRIPT/WIRE SOURCE: