“Engineering Spider Silk and Spinning Science Fiction into Reality” | Amanda Brooks | TEDxNDSU

Spyder the word of oak’s fear in the

Spyder the word of oak’s fear in the hearts of many and yet bear with me for

hearts of many and yet bear with me for

hearts of many and yet bear with me for a few minutes and allow me to take you

a few minutes and allow me to take you

a few minutes and allow me to take you on a journey to show you that spiders

on a journey to show you that spiders

on a journey to show you that spiders are not the creatures of our nightmares

are not the creatures of our nightmares

are not the creatures of our nightmares but instead should inspire our dreams so

but instead should inspire our dreams so

but instead should inspire our dreams so many of us whether you love them hate

many of us whether you love them hate

many of us whether you love them hate them or are indifferent to them are

them or are indifferent to them are

them or are indifferent to them are intrigued by spiders and I think Peter

intrigued by spiders and I think Peter

intrigued by spiders and I think Peter Parker might have something to do with

Parker might have something to do with

Parker might have something to do with it

it

it so I mean this isn’t that scary what’s

so I mean this isn’t that scary what’s

so I mean this isn’t that scary what’s so scary about a teenager getting bit by

so scary about a teenager getting bit by

so scary about a teenager getting bit by a radioactive spider and getting

a radioactive spider and getting

a radioactive spider and getting superpowers okay so maybe that’s a

superpowers okay so maybe that’s a

superpowers okay so maybe that’s a little more scary than rosy here but he

little more scary than rosy here but he

little more scary than rosy here but he did stop a train with his silk on the

did stop a train with his silk on the

did stop a train with his silk on the movie screen and in fact that’s not far

movie screen and in fact that’s not far

movie screen and in fact that’s not far from the truth

from the truth

from the truth a one-inch thick rope of spider silk

a one-inch thick rope of spider silk

a one-inch thick rope of spider silk could stop a 747 airplane that’s

could stop a 747 airplane that’s

could stop a 747 airplane that’s freaking amazing

freaking amazing

freaking amazing now I may not be trying to stop a train

now I may not be trying to stop a train

now I may not be trying to stop a train we’re an airplane for that matter but in

we’re an airplane for that matter but in

we’re an airplane for that matter but in my lab at North Dakota State University

my lab at North Dakota State University

my lab at North Dakota State University we’re taking the power of spider silk

we’re taking the power of spider silk

we’re taking the power of spider silk off the movie screen and bringing it

off the movie screen and bringing it

off the movie screen and bringing it into reality by developing new

into reality by developing new

into reality by developing new applications of spider silk to really

applications of spider silk to really

applications of spider silk to really address the global grand challenges that

address the global grand challenges that

address the global grand challenges that face us today I may not have a cool

face us today I may not have a cool

face us today I may not have a cool costume and I may not use spider silk to

costume and I may not use spider silk to

costume and I may not use spider silk to swing from buildings but at North Dakota

swing from buildings but at North Dakota

swing from buildings but at North Dakota State University

State University

State University I am Spider Woman I didn’t start out to

I am Spider Woman I didn’t start out to

I am Spider Woman I didn’t start out to be Spider Woman of NDSU or any place for

be Spider Woman of NDSU or any place for

be Spider Woman of NDSU or any place for that matter I began working with spiders

that matter I began working with spiders

that matter I began working with spiders for about 15 years ago in graduate

for about 15 years ago in graduate

for about 15 years ago in graduate school now I didn’t always love spiders

school now I didn’t always love spiders

school now I didn’t always love spiders I had to come around to him a little bit

I had to come around to him a little bit

I had to come around to him a little bit I mean first I started with worms as a

I mean first I started with worms as a

I mean first I started with worms as a child

child

child worms and then I moved on to ants those

worms and then I moved on to ants those

worms and then I moved on to ants those were really cool but when I found

were really cool but when I found

were really cool but when I found spiders that was it it was all over for

spiders that was it it was all over for

spiders that was it it was all over for me I became so enamored and wrapped up

me I became so enamored and wrapped up

me I became so enamored and wrapped up in their webs that I couldn’t wait to

in their webs that I couldn’t wait to

in their webs that I couldn’t wait to get to work the next day

get to work the next day

get to work the next day in fact I became so enthralled with

in fact I became so enthralled with

in fact I became so enthralled with spiders that my kids started teasing me

spiders that my kids started teasing me

spiders that my kids started teasing me and they would play a game they would

and they would play a game they would

and they would play a game they would say in their five and seven year old

say in their five and seven year old

say in their five and seven year old brains the most outlandish things they

brains the most outlandish things they

brains the most outlandish things they could think of and challenge me to

could think of and challenge me to

could think of and challenge me to relate them to spider silk now it turns

relate them to spider silk now it turns

relate them to spider silk now it turns out I am really good at retaining almost

out I am really good at retaining almost

out I am really good at retaining almost anything and everything – spider silk

anything and everything – spider silk

anything and everything – spider silk there are two different types of spiders

there are two different types of spiders

there are two different types of spiders there’s orb-weaving spiders and non or

there’s orb-weaving spiders and non or

there’s orb-weaving spiders and non or weaving spiders or weaving spiders make

weaving spiders or weaving spiders make

weaving spiders or weaving spiders make the circular webs that catch their prey

the circular webs that catch their prey

the circular webs that catch their prey they also catch passerby sometimes these

they also catch passerby sometimes these

they also catch passerby sometimes these are the webs that stick to your face and

are the webs that stick to your face and

are the webs that stick to your face and help you channel your inner ninja when

help you channel your inner ninja when

help you channel your inner ninja when you walk into them non orb-weaving

you walk into them non orb-weaving

you walk into them non orb-weaving spiders don’t produce as many types of

spiders don’t produce as many types of

spiders don’t produce as many types of silk and they don’t use they’re slow to

silk and they don’t use they’re slow to

silk and they don’t use they’re slow to catch their prey

catch their prey

catch their prey instead they line their burrows with

instead they line their burrows with

instead they line their burrows with their silk and use it as a home security

their silk and use it as a home security

their silk and use it as a home security system allowing that trigger to be hit

system allowing that trigger to be hit

system allowing that trigger to be hit every time something is lurking outside

every time something is lurking outside

every time something is lurking outside their door just in case maybe it’s lunch

their door just in case maybe it’s lunch

their door just in case maybe it’s lunch not only are their soaks different but

not only are their soaks different but

not only are their soaks different but spiders have different personalities

spiders have different personalities

spiders have different personalities most people don’t believe me when I say

most people don’t believe me when I say

most people don’t believe me when I say that but my friend Rosie here who’s

that but my friend Rosie here who’s

that but my friend Rosie here who’s behaving herself quite well yesterday I

behaving herself quite well yesterday I

behaving herself quite well yesterday I was doing spider Taichi um Rosie here

was doing spider Taichi um Rosie here

was doing spider Taichi um Rosie here often gets scared in large crowds and

often gets scared in large crowds and

often gets scared in large crowds and will cover her eyes with her legs now

will cover her eyes with her legs now

will cover her eyes with her legs now Rosie is quite a nice tarantula I know

Rosie is quite a nice tarantula I know

Rosie is quite a nice tarantula I know some of you may not believe me but she

some of you may not believe me but she

some of you may not believe me but she is there are some tarantulas that are

is there are some tarantulas that are

is there are some tarantulas that are far more cranky so here’s a tip for you

far more cranky so here’s a tip for you

far more cranky so here’s a tip for you next time you think you’re going to pick

next time you think you’re going to pick

next time you think you’re going to pick up a tarantula if it has a bald spot on

up a tarantula if it has a bald spot on

up a tarantula if it has a bald spot on abdomen don’t pick it up that’s a cranky

abdomen don’t pick it up that’s a cranky

abdomen don’t pick it up that’s a cranky tarantula

tarantula

tarantula unlike some men who are cranky because

unlike some men who are cranky because

unlike some men who are cranky because they’re bald tarantulas are cranky

they’re bald tarantulas are cranky

they’re bald tarantulas are cranky because chances are bald because they’re

because chances are bald because they’re

because chances are bald because they’re cranky Nephilim appease or as my kids

cranky Nephilim appease or as my kids

cranky Nephilim appease or as my kids used to call them banana but spiders are

used to call them banana but spiders are

used to call them banana but spiders are very docile and they don’t mind being

very docile and they don’t mind being

very docile and they don’t mind being handled in fact I’m pretty sure I’m

handled in fact I’m pretty sure I’m

handled in fact I’m pretty sure I’m getting close to training them to do

getting close to training them to do

getting close to training them to do tricks for lab tours

tricks for lab tours

tricks for lab tours unlike Rosie these spiders don’t see

unlike Rosie these spiders don’t see

unlike Rosie these spiders don’t see very well and so they have to use their

very well and so they have to use their

very well and so they have to use their silk to catch their prey however there

silk to catch their prey however there

silk to catch their prey however there are smarter than Rosie Rosie would walk

are smarter than Rosie Rosie would walk

are smarter than Rosie Rosie would walk right off my hand without a second

right off my hand without a second

right off my hand without a second thought whereas these guys will at least

thought whereas these guys will at least

thought whereas these guys will at least attach their silk to me first our guy up

attach their silk to me first our guy up

attach their silk to me first our guy up you garden spiders are a little crankier

you garden spiders are a little crankier

you garden spiders are a little crankier than the banana-bot spiders and they run

than the banana-bot spiders and they run

than the banana-bot spiders and they run really really fast trust me it was not a

really really fast trust me it was not a

really really fast trust me it was not a pleasant experience in graduate school

pleasant experience in graduate school

pleasant experience in graduate school when one of these would escape what I

when one of these would escape what I

when one of these would escape what I found out about myself though is that

found out about myself though is that

found out about myself though is that I’m a pretty dang good spider Wrangler

auric weaving spiders have six different

auric weaving spiders have six different kinds of silk and a special silk glue

kinds of silk and a special silk glue

kinds of silk and a special silk glue and they use these silks to create a

and they use these silks to create a

and they use these silks to create a balanced web that has both elasticity

balanced web that has both elasticity

balanced web that has both elasticity and strength now each one of these silks

and strength now each one of these silks

and strength now each one of these silks is sequestered in a gland in their

is sequestered in a gland in their

is sequestered in a gland in their abdomen and it’s a specialized gland for

abdomen and it’s a specialized gland for

abdomen and it’s a specialized gland for a specific purpose it would be like us

a specific purpose it would be like us

a specific purpose it would be like us having saliva glands to taste sweet

having saliva glands to taste sweet

having saliva glands to taste sweet salty or bitter foods now the problem

salty or bitter foods now the problem

salty or bitter foods now the problem here is that we only care about one of

here is that we only care about one of

here is that we only care about one of these soaks just the dragline silk

these soaks just the dragline silk

these soaks just the dragline silk that’s the one that when is fall that a

that’s the one that when is fall that a

that’s the one that when is fall that a spider falls from the ceiling that’s

spider falls from the ceiling that’s

spider falls from the ceiling that’s what they’re using that’s the one we

what they’re using that’s the one we

what they’re using that’s the one we care about but they also make flagella

care about but they also make flagella

care about but they also make flagella form silks that are as stretchy as

form silks that are as stretchy as

form silks that are as stretchy as rubber bands and form the elastic

rubber bands and form the elastic

rubber bands and form the elastic capture spiral of their web so how do we

capture spiral of their web so how do we

capture spiral of their web so how do we isolate a single strand well we’ll get

isolate a single strand well we’ll get

isolate a single strand well we’ll get to that

to that

to that spiders soak like our muscles is almost

spiders soak like our muscles is almost

spiders soak like our muscles is almost entirely made of protein and each of

entirely made of protein and each of

entirely made of protein and each of these proteins is made up of Lego like

these proteins is made up of Lego like

these proteins is made up of Lego like building blocks

building blocks

building blocks now spiders have a blue Lego that gives

now spiders have a blue Lego that gives

now spiders have a blue Lego that gives them the elasticity and a yellow Lego

them the elasticity and a yellow Lego

them the elasticity and a yellow Lego that gives them strength which means

that gives them strength which means

that gives them strength which means that spiders were the original Lego

that spiders were the original Lego

that spiders were the original Lego builders and they have mastered the art

builders and they have mastered the art

builders and they have mastered the art of doing this so by distilling these

of doing this so by distilling these

of doing this so by distilling these complex molecular concepts into just

complex molecular concepts into just

complex molecular concepts into just pattern building with Legos anybody can

pattern building with Legos anybody can

pattern building with Legos anybody can manipulate spider silk

manipulate spider silk

manipulate spider silk in fact spiders are not the only Lego

in fact spiders are not the only Lego

in fact spiders are not the only Lego builders around they’re not the only

builders around they’re not the only

builders around they’re not the only ones that have been playing Legos

ones that have been playing Legos

ones that have been playing Legos currently we’ve been able to find Legos

currently we’ve been able to find Legos

currently we’ve been able to find Legos all around us in our environment right

all around us in our environment right

all around us in our environment right now

now

now we found a heparin binding Lego now

we found a heparin binding Lego now

we found a heparin binding Lego now heparin is a molecule in your body that

heparin is a molecule in your body that

heparin is a molecule in your body that prevents blood clots but the cool thing

prevents blood clots but the cool thing

prevents blood clots but the cool thing about this Lego is it can also prevent

about this Lego is it can also prevent

about this Lego is it can also prevent infections how cool is that because it

infections how cool is that because it

infections how cool is that because it turns out that when we mix it together

turns out that when we mix it together

turns out that when we mix it together with spider silk we can create a coating

with spider silk we can create a coating

with spider silk we can create a coating for a catheter now if you get a blood

for a catheter now if you get a blood

for a catheter now if you get a blood clot around a catheter you’re far more

clot around a catheter you’re far more

clot around a catheter you’re far more likely to get an infection and if you

likely to get an infection and if you

likely to get an infection and if you get an infection you’re a lot more

get an infection you’re a lot more

get an infection you’re a lot more likely to get a blood clot so the

likely to get a blood clot so the

likely to get a blood clot so the problem is that physicians treat these

problem is that physicians treat these

problem is that physicians treat these as two separate things but we know that

as two separate things but we know that

as two separate things but we know that they’re the same and they’re connected

they’re the same and they’re connected

they’re the same and they’re connected so producing a coating that can both

so producing a coating that can both

so producing a coating that can both resist infection and blood clots is a

resist infection and blood clots is a

resist infection and blood clots is a significant advancement my latest

significant advancement my latest

significant advancement my latest project and what I’m really excited

project and what I’m really excited

project and what I’m really excited about is we found a green Lego that will

about is we found a green Lego that will

about is we found a green Lego that will interact with bacteria and interacts

interact with bacteria and interacts

interact with bacteria and interacts with mersa and hospital-acquired

with mersa and hospital-acquired

with mersa and hospital-acquired infections so we mix that in with spider

infections so we mix that in with spider

infections so we mix that in with spider silk and we created a bubble and in that

silk and we created a bubble and in that

silk and we created a bubble and in that bubble we put antibiotics now that

bubble we put antibiotics now that

bubble we put antibiotics now that bubble will only burst in the presence

bubble will only burst in the presence

bubble will only burst in the presence of an infection that will help us

of an infection that will help us

of an infection that will help us prevent antibiotic resistant bacteria

prevent antibiotic resistant bacteria

prevent antibiotic resistant bacteria from developing and protect the tissues

from developing and protect the tissues

from developing and protect the tissues that surround it

that surround it

that surround it now both of these applications that I’ve

now both of these applications that I’ve

now both of these applications that I’ve just talked about require a solution but

just talked about require a solution but

just talked about require a solution but some applications may require a fiber in

some applications may require a fiber in

some applications may require a fiber in order to produce a fiber with the proper

order to produce a fiber with the proper

order to produce a fiber with the proper mechanical properties it requires a

mechanical properties it requires a

mechanical properties it requires a balance of protein structure and

balance of protein structure and

balance of protein structure and sequence and spinning unfortunately this

sequence and spinning unfortunately this

sequence and spinning unfortunately this is what we look like right now we know a

is what we look like right now we know a

is what we look like right now we know a lot about the proteins

lot about the proteins

lot about the proteins sequence and a lot less about how to

sequence and a lot less about how to

sequence and a lot less about how to spin the fiber so here’s what we know we

spin the fiber so here’s what we know we

spin the fiber so here’s what we know we know that spiders produce their silk a

know that spiders produce their silk a

know that spiders produce their silk a lot more like floss and scientists and

lot more like floss and scientists and

lot more like floss and scientists and labs produce their silk a lot more like

labs produce their silk a lot more like

labs produce their silk a lot more like toothpaste now I’m not there how many of

toothpaste now I’m not there how many of

toothpaste now I’m not there how many of you have ever had an uncontrolled floss

you have ever had an uncontrolled floss

you have ever had an uncontrolled floss meltdown in the bathroom what if you

meltdown in the bathroom what if you

meltdown in the bathroom what if you have tried to help a two-year-old with

have tried to help a two-year-old with

have tried to help a two-year-old with toothpaste

toothpaste

toothpaste you know how messy and uncontrolled that

you know how messy and uncontrolled that

you know how messy and uncontrolled that can be in order to learn more about

can be in order to learn more about

can be in order to learn more about their spinning system we have to take

their spinning system we have to take

their spinning system we have to take the fiber directly from the spider again

the fiber directly from the spider again

the fiber directly from the spider again we’re only interested in the one so as

we’re only interested in the one so as

we’re only interested in the one so as you might imagine

you might imagine

you might imagine spiders are maybe not as cooperative

spiders are maybe not as cooperative

spiders are maybe not as cooperative with this as we’d like so what we have

with this as we’d like so what we have

with this as we’d like so what we have to do is we knock them out and then we

to do is we knock them out and then we

to do is we knock them out and then we quickly tape them down on their back

quickly tape them down on their back

quickly tape them down on their back before they can get back up we gave them

before they can get back up we gave them

before they can get back up we gave them a little seat belt so that they don’t

a little seat belt so that they don’t

a little seat belt so that they don’t move around and we give them some food

move around and we give them some food

move around and we give them some food to distract him because as they say fat

to distract him because as they say fat

to distract him because as they say fat and happy right so then we start pulling

and happy right so then we start pulling

and happy right so then we start pulling the silk out and we pull it like floss

the silk out and we pull it like floss

the silk out and we pull it like floss well at least philosophy used a drill to

well at least philosophy used a drill to

well at least philosophy used a drill to pull it out now because these spiders

pull it out now because these spiders

pull it out now because these spiders produce the six different kinds of silk

produce the six different kinds of silk

produce the six different kinds of silk and we only want the one that’s a little

and we only want the one that’s a little

and we only want the one that’s a little difficult to manipulate so we have to do

difficult to manipulate so we have to do

difficult to manipulate so we have to do it under a microscope

it under a microscope

it under a microscope each of these fibers is 1/10 to 1/100

each of these fibers is 1/10 to 1/100

each of these fibers is 1/10 to 1/100 the diameter of a single human hair

the diameter of a single human hair

the diameter of a single human hair which I’m pretty sure is why I had to

which I’m pretty sure is why I had to

which I’m pretty sure is why I had to start wearing glasses full time at

start wearing glasses full time at

start wearing glasses full time at graduate school on a good day each

graduate school on a good day each

graduate school on a good day each spider produces silk for one hour and

spider produces silk for one hour and

spider produces silk for one hour and that’s one football field in length how

that’s one football field in length how

that’s one football field in length how amazing is that

amazing is that

amazing is that spider-man’s got nothing on these guys

spider-man’s got nothing on these guys

spider-man’s got nothing on these guys unfortunately when you bundle that all

unfortunately when you bundle that all

unfortunately when you bundle that all together it’s less than the size of a

together it’s less than the size of a

together it’s less than the size of a pea so we have to come up with a better

pea so we have to come up with a better

pea so we have to come up with a better way so lately we have started 3d

way so lately we have started 3d

way so lately we have started 3d printing a silk spinning device that

printing a silk spinning device that

printing a silk spinning device that does it a lot more like spiders do it

does it a lot more like spiders do it

does it a lot more like spiders do it gone are the days of two-year-olds and

gone are the days of two-year-olds and

gone are the days of two-year-olds and toothpaste we’re now more like teenagers

toothpaste we’re now more like teenagers

toothpaste we’re now more like teenagers in toothpastes furthermore we’re working

in toothpastes furthermore we’re working

in toothpastes furthermore we’re working to mix in a molecule or a new Lego that

to mix in a molecule or a new Lego that

to mix in a molecule or a new Lego that will respond to the pressure

will respond to the pressure

will respond to the pressure and temperature of your skin so that we

and temperature of your skin so that we

and temperature of your skin so that we can incorporate silk into a compression

can incorporate silk into a compression

can incorporate silk into a compression bandage just think of it you sprained

bandage just think of it you sprained

bandage just think of it you sprained your ankle and you have to go wrap it

your ankle and you have to go wrap it

your ankle and you have to go wrap it with a compression bandage when you’re

with a compression bandage when you’re

with a compression bandage when you’re sitting down when you stand up it’s

sitting down when you stand up it’s

sitting down when you stand up it’s either too tight or too loose then you

either too tight or too loose then you

either too tight or too loose then you have to wrap it again

have to wrap it again

have to wrap it again but what if there was a bandage made of

but what if there was a bandage made of

but what if there was a bandage made of spider silk let’s call it the Goldilocks

spider silk let’s call it the Goldilocks

spider silk let’s call it the Goldilocks silk bandage for example that when you

silk bandage for example that when you

silk bandage for example that when you wrapped it responded to the proper set

wrapped it responded to the proper set

wrapped it responded to the proper set of compression and gave you just the

of compression and gave you just the

of compression and gave you just the right amount controlling the underlying

right amount controlling the underlying

right amount controlling the underlying silk protein will lead to an almost

silk protein will lead to an almost

silk protein will lead to an almost endless variety of applications in fact

endless variety of applications in fact

endless variety of applications in fact you may say it’s only limited by your

you may say it’s only limited by your

you may say it’s only limited by your imagination although my spiders may

imagination although my spiders may

imagination although my spiders may still evoke a sense of fear in you and

still evoke a sense of fear in you and

still evoke a sense of fear in you and you may not all rush up to hold rosy I

you may not all rush up to hold rosy I

you may not all rush up to hold rosy I hope that you can now appreciate the

hope that you can now appreciate the

hope that you can now appreciate the beauty of their silk their silk is

beauty of their silk their silk is

beauty of their silk their silk is strengthening the way in which we

strengthening the way in which we

strengthening the way in which we produce oh now she’s going to move

produce oh now she’s going to move

produce oh now she’s going to move around here for you the way we produce

around here for you the way we produce

around here for you the way we produce and manufacture new materials and we’ve

and manufacture new materials and we’ve

and manufacture new materials and we’ve only just begun in this journey