Jacket made of cobwebs

The Japanese have released the world's first jacket made of GM web

Sergey Kolenov, Hi-tech+

The "spider jacket" Moon Parka is lightweight, waterproof and very warm. Not a single spider was harmed during its production: the necessary materials were synthesized by genetically modified bacteria.

It will not be difficult for a person to break the web, however, given its diameter, it is one of the most durable materials in nature. According to scientists, it is five times stronger than steel and three times stronger than Kevlar, but lighter than carbon fiber. It is not surprising that people have been trying to use the web for their own purposes for a long time.

Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to make spiders produce webs on an industrial scale. To circumvent this restriction, the Japanese biotech company Spiber has created genetically modified bacteria that synthesize spider silk proteins. After the synthesis cycle, the molecules are separated, strands are spun from them, and then fabrics are woven.

As a demonstration of the technology, the company, together with The North Face Japan, created the Moon Parka – the world's first ski jacket based on a spider web. According to ZME Science, these are waterproof, breathable and very warm clothes. Perhaps similar jackets will become part of the clothing of astronauts exploring the moon.

The GM bacteria that produced the web for Moon Parka were grown on sugar extracted from agricultural waste. This is a much more environmentally friendly approach than the production of nylon and polyester based on petroleum products.

Moon Parka will go on limited sale on December 12, 2019 at a price of about $1400. Then a larger-scale production will be launched.

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