Synthetic Spider Silk Lab, funded by Utah State University has received a US$ 420,000 grant from the US Navy Division of Unconventional Warfare. The fund has been granted to design and develop synthetic spider silk material to be used to fight enemy targets during military combat.
The grant is for one year.
Utah University states, “Envisioning a device the US Navy is developing with Utah State University synthetic spider silk conjures images you’d expect in a James Bond thriller.
Think strong, stretchy fibers wrapping relentlessly around a boat propeller and effectively foiling nefarious efforts by smugglers, pirates or terrorists.”
Nonlethal Maritime Vessel Stopping Occlusion Technologies is the official name for such devices. The Utah state university’s Synthetic Spider Silk Lab too will apply silk manufacturing technology to enable the commercial-scale production of other biomaterials.
Mr Randy Lewis, professor in USU’s Department of Biology and lab director said, “This project has three major aims that will benefit the Navy and advance our research. This is a great opportunity for USU, because this project will allow us to continue to develop our knowledge of synthetic silk production and applications.
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