Bulletproof skin actually works

What happens when you cross spider webs with human skin cells? Why, you could very well end up with an interesting new material that could repel bullets – as long as they travel within reasonable speeds, of course. This is made possible thanks to a Dutch team who conjured this unique “bulletproof” skin using special, U.S.-made spider silk and human skin cells. Basically, it stopped a bullet that was fired at a reduced speed, and it certainly will not be able to go up against a shot from a .22 caliber rifle, which is actually the benchmark for protection for a Type 1 bulletproof vest.

Still, I guess with further research done into this particular new material, a more efficient kind of bulletproof vest can be constructed. Jalila Essaidi is the Dutch artist who worked with the Forensic Genomics Consortium Netherlands to develop this skin. She originally wanted to start an art project to demonstrate the relative concept of safety, and ended up with this.

This is no ordinary spider silk, as it came from genetically modified goats and worms at Utah State University in Logan. Perhaps this can be the next generation of highly durable clothes that our military will wear as their uniform?

Edwin Kee
Categories: General
Tags: bulletproof, skin