Engineering spider silk and spinning science fiction into reality | Amanda Brooks | TEDxNDSU

更新 2019年8月3日 发布 2018年7月11日  Posts

“Spider.” The word evokes fear in the hearts of many. However, allow Dr. Amanda Brooks to take you on a journey to show the world that spiders are not creatures of our nightmares but instead inspire our dreams.

Amanda received her B.S. from the University of Utah and her PhD. from the University of Wyoming, where she genetically engineered spider silk to be more elastic and developed protocols for single fiber mechanical testing. She then completed a Postdoc in Bioengineering at UCSD in cartilage tissue engineering, followed by a Postdoc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Bioengineering at University of Utah. She developed a controlled antibiotic releasing bone void filler for total joint replacements. Amanda was then promoted to the Research Assistant Professor at University of Utah after receiving a grant to develop an antithrombotic, anti-infective silk-based catheter coating. Amanda currently serves an Assistant Professor in Pharmaceutical Sciences at NDSU. At NDSU, Amanda has a lively, student-focused research program with students working in the lab from 5 different majors across campus. Though there are different projects in the lab, spider silk is threaded through all of them.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

1
00:00:07,444 –> 00:00:08,444
“蜘蛛”
“Spider.”

2
00:00:08,699 –> 00:00:12,526
这个词会唤起许多人内心的恐惧。
The word evokes fear
in the hearts of many,

3
00:00:12,526 –> 00:00:16,748
但请忍耐几分钟,
让我为你们开启一段旅程,
and yet bear with me for a few minutes,
and allow me to take you on a journey

4
00:00:16,748 –> 00:00:20,988
来告诉你们
蜘蛛并不是噩梦般的生物。
to show you that spiders
are not the creatures of our nightmares

5
00:00:20,988 –> 00:00:24,538
相反,它们会激发我们的梦想。
but instead should inspire our dreams.

6
00:00:33,191 –> 00:00:38,833
所以,我们很多人,无论你是
爱它们,恨它们,或者漠不关心,
So, many of us, whether you love them,
hate them, or are indifferent to them,

7
00:00:38,833 –> 00:00:41,253
都会为蜘蛛所吸引。
are intrigued by spiders,

8
00:00:41,253 –> 00:00:44,114
我认为可能是因为
Peter Parker(蜘蛛侠)。
and I think Peter Parker
might have something to do with it.

9
00:00:45,054 –> 00:00:48,514
所以,我想说,
这并不那么可怕。
So, I mean, this isn’t that scary.

10
00:00:49,254 –> 00:00:52,999
一个少年被放射性蜘蛛咬了口,
What’s so scary about a teenager
getting bit by a radioactive spider

11
00:00:52,999 –> 00:00:55,049
从此获得了超能力,
有什么可怕的呢?
and getting superpowers?

12
00:00:55,469 –> 00:00:58,319
好吧,也许这比我手里的
罗茜要可怕一点。
OK. So maybe that’s a little
more scary than Rosie, here.

13
00:00:59,910 –> 00:01:03,990
但他确实在电影屏幕上
用蜘蛛丝阻止了一列火车。
But he did stop a train with his silk
on the movie screen.

14
00:01:04,723 –> 00:01:07,303
事实上,
现实情况也差不多。
And in fact, that’s not far
from the truth.

15
00:01:10,429 –> 00:01:16,100
一英寸粗的蜘蛛丝绳
可以阻止一架 747飞机。
A one-inch thick rope of spider silk
could stop a 747 airplane.

16
00:01:16,100 –> 00:01:17,950
这真是太神奇了。
That’s freaking amazing.

17
00:01:18,440 –> 00:01:23,622
现在,我可能不会
试图阻止火车或飞机。
Now, I may not be trying to stop a train,
or an airplane, for that matter,

18
00:01:23,622 –> 00:01:26,656
但在我北达科他州立大学(NDSU)
的实验室里,
but in my lab at
North Dakota State University,

19
00:01:26,656 –> 00:01:29,854
我们正在将
蜘蛛丝的力量从电影屏幕上
we’re taking the power of spider silk
off the movie screen

20
00:01:29,854 –> 00:01:31,957
搬到现实中来,
and bringing it into reality

21
00:01:31,957 –> 00:01:35,026
并通过开发蜘蛛丝的新应用
by developing new
applications of spider silk

22
00:01:35,026 –> 00:01:38,516
来真正解决我们今天
所面临的巨大的全球挑战。
to really address the global
grand challenges that face us today.

23
00:01:39,939 –> 00:01:40,939
(笑声)
(Laughter)

24
00:01:42,171 –> 00:01:44,815
我可能没有很酷的服装,
I may not have a cool costume,

25
00:01:45,635 –> 00:01:49,441
我也不会用蜘蛛丝
在建筑物上摆动,
and I may not use spider silk
to swing from buildings,

26
00:01:49,441 –> 00:01:54,761
但在北达科他州立大学(NDSU),
我是蜘蛛女侠。
but at North Dakota State University,
I am Spider-Woman.

27
00:01:55,666 –> 00:01:58,657
我一开始并不是
NDSU 的蜘蛛女侠,
I didn’t start out to be
Spider-Woman of NDSU,

28
00:01:58,657 –> 00:02:00,467
在其他地方也不是。
or any place, for that matter.

29
00:02:00,716 –> 00:02:05,366
大约15年前在研究生院,
我开始研究蜘蛛。
I began working with spiders
about 15 years ago, in graduate school.

30
00:02:05,729 –> 00:02:08,279
我并不是一开始就喜欢蜘蛛。
Now, I didn’t always love spiders.

31
00:02:08,282 –> 00:02:10,279
这过程有点曲折。
I had to come around to them a little bit.

32
00:02:10,289 –> 00:02:12,978
我是说,最初,
小时候我先接触的蠕虫。
I mean, first, I started
with worms, as a child.

33
00:02:12,978 –> 00:02:14,279
我喜欢蠕虫。
I love worms.

34
00:02:14,279 –> 00:02:16,529
然后我转向蚂蚁。
And then I moved on to ants.

35
00:02:16,529 –> 00:02:18,237
它们真的很酷。
Those were really cool.

36
00:02:18,237 –> 00:02:21,251
但是当我发现蜘蛛时,
就是这样,
But when I found spiders, that was it.

37
00:02:21,251 –> 00:02:23,051
其它的都不重要了。
It was all over for me.

38
00:02:23,053 –> 00:02:27,660
我开始沉迷于它们的蛛网。
I became so enamored
and wrapped up in their webs

39
00:02:27,660 –> 00:02:31,580
我每天都迫不及待地
想要上班。
that I couldn’t wait
to get to work the next day.

40
00:02:32,169 –> 00:02:35,099
事实上,我如此迷恋蜘蛛,
In fact, I became
so enthralled with spiders

41
00:02:35,099 –> 00:02:39,119
以至于我的孩子们开始逗我,
通过玩一种游戏,
that my kids started teasing me,
and they would play a game.

42
00:02:39,771 –> 00:02:43,806
用他们 5 岁和 7 岁的大脑想出
They would say,
in their 5- and 7-year-old brains,

43
00:02:43,806 –> 00:02:46,722
能想到的最奇特的东西,
the most outlandish things
they could think of

44
00:02:46,722 –> 00:02:49,712
并挑战我将它们
与蜘蛛丝联系起来。
and challenge me
to relate them to spider silk.

45
00:02:50,483 –> 00:02:52,893
现在,事实证明,
Now, it turns out,

46
00:02:52,893 –> 00:02:54,420
我真的很擅长
I am really good

47
00:02:54,420 –> 00:02:59,250
将任何事情,一切事情,
与蜘蛛丝关联起来。
at relating almost anything
and everything to spider silk.

48
00:03:01,345 –> 00:03:04,505
蜘蛛分为两种,
There are two different types of spiders.

49
00:03:05,021 –> 00:03:08,611
结网蜘蛛和非结网蜘蛛。
There’s orb-weaving spiders
and non-orb-weaving spiders.

50
00:03:08,927 –> 00:03:13,097
结网蜘蛛编制圆形的网
来捕捉猎物。
Orb-weaving spiders make the circular webs
that catch their prey.

51
00:03:13,693 –> 00:03:17,033
它们有时也会抓住路人。
They also catch passersby sometimes.

52
00:03:17,033 –> 00:03:20,078
在你走进它们的时候,
这些网粘在你的脸上,
These are the webs that stick to your face

53
00:03:20,078 –> 00:03:23,298
并“磨练”你强大的内心。
and help you channel your inner ninja
when you walk into them.

54
00:03:25,670 –> 00:03:30,174
非结网蜘蛛
不会产生那么多类型的蛛丝,
Non-orb-weaving spiders
don’t produce as many types of silk,

55
00:03:30,174 –> 00:03:32,715
也不使用蛛丝捕捉猎物。
and they don’t use their silk
to catch their prey.

56
00:03:32,715 –> 00:03:35,945
不同的是,
它们在洞穴中结网,
Instead, they line
their burrows with their silk

57
00:03:35,945 –> 00:03:38,884
作为巢穴的安全系统。
and use it as a home security system,

58
00:03:38,884 –> 00:03:41,053
当外面潜伏着某种东西时,
会触发警报。
allowing that trigger to be hit

59
00:03:41,053 –> 00:03:43,822
当外面潜伏着某种东西时,
会触发警报。
every time something
is lurking outside their door,

60
00:03:43,822 –> 00:03:45,612
也许在万一的情况,
可能会加顿午餐。
just in case, maybe, it’s lunch.

61
00:03:47,669 –> 00:03:52,164
蜘蛛不仅蛛丝不同,
它们的个性也不同。
Not only are their silks different,
but spiders have different personalities.

62
00:03:52,164 –> 00:03:54,266
当我说这些时,
大多数人不相信我。
Most people don’t believe me
when I say that.

63
00:03:54,856 –> 00:03:59,291
但我的这位朋友罗茜
就表现得很好,
But my friend Rosie here,
who’s behaving herself quite well –

64
00:03:59,291 –> 00:04:01,851
比如昨天我做“蜘蛛太极”的时候。
yesterday, I was doing spider Tai Chi.

65
00:04:02,972 –> 00:04:05,265
罗茜常常会被
大量的人群吓到,
Rosie here often
gets scared in large crowds

66
00:04:05,265 –> 00:04:07,615
然后她会用腿遮住眼睛。
and will cover her eyes with her legs.

67
00:04:08,042 –> 00:04:10,902
现在,罗茜是一个
非常友善的狼蛛。
Now, Rosie is quite a nice tarantula.

68
00:04:11,332 –> 00:04:14,537
我知道,你们中有些人可能不相信我,
但她确实是。
I know: some of you
may not believe me, but she is.

69
00:04:14,537 –> 00:04:17,286
有些狼蛛脾气暴躁。
There are some tarantulas
that are far more cranky.

70
00:04:17,976 –> 00:04:22,431
所以这里给各位一个提示:
下次你想要拿起一只狼蛛时,
So here’s a tip for you next time you
think you’re going to pick up a tarantula:

71
00:04:22,431 –> 00:04:25,475
如果它腹部有秃斑,
If it has a bald spot on its abdomen,

72
00:04:25,475 –> 00:04:29,695
请不要捡起,
那是一只脾气暴躁的狼蛛。
don’t pick it up;
that’s a cranky tarantula.

73
00:04:29,695 –> 00:04:34,062
这不像有些男士
因为秃顶而脾气暴躁,
Unlike some men who are cranky
because they’re bald,

74
00:04:34,062 –> 00:04:40,025
狼蛛因为脾气暴躁而变秃。
tarantulas are bald
because they’re cranky.

75
00:04:42,135 –> 00:04:43,135
Nephila Clavipes 蛛,
Nephila clavipes,

76
00:04:43,135 –> 00:04:45,888
或者像我的孩子们以前
称它们为“香蕉屁股蜘蛛”,
or as my kids used to call them
“Banana Butt Spiders,”

77
00:04:45,888 –> 00:04:47,276
也非常温顺。
are very docile.

78
00:04:47,926 –> 00:04:50,026
它们不介意被抓着。
And they don’t mind being handled.

79
00:04:50,026 –> 00:04:51,637
事实上,我很确定
In fact, I’m pretty sure

80
00:04:51,637 –> 00:04:54,827
我就快掌握了
训练它们环游实验室。
I’m getting close to training them
to do tricks for lab tours.

81
00:04:55,360 –> 00:04:59,230
与罗茜不同,
这些蜘蛛视力不太好,
Unlike Rosie, these spiders
don’t see very well,

82
00:04:59,230 –> 00:05:02,270
所以它们必须
用蜘蛛丝捕捉猎物。
and so they have to use their silk
to catch their prey;

83
00:05:02,270 –> 00:05:05,280
然而,它们比罗茜聪明得多。
however, they are far smarter than Rosie.

84
00:05:05,280 –> 00:05:08,293
罗茜会毫不犹豫地
从我的手中爬走,
Rosie would walk right off my hand
without a second thought

85
00:05:08,293 –> 00:05:11,323
而这些家伙至少会
先将蛛丝粘在我身上。
whereas these guys will at least
attach their silk to me first.

86
00:05:13,750 –> 00:05:19,040
花园金蜘比
“香蕉屁股”蜘蛛更暴躁。
Argiope garden spiders are a little
crankier than the “banana butt” spiders.

87
00:05:19,601 –> 00:05:23,015
而且它们的运动速度
非常非常快。
And they run really, really fast.

88
00:05:23,015 –> 00:05:24,250
相信我,
Trust me.

89
00:05:24,250 –> 00:05:26,751
在研究院中这并不愉快,
It was not a pleasant experience
in graduate school

90
00:05:26,751 –> 00:05:28,381
如果它们中的一只逃脱了。
when one of these would escape.

91
00:05:28,952 –> 00:05:30,847
然而,我发现自己,
What I found out about myself, though,

92
00:05:30,847 –> 00:05:33,757
是一个很好的蜘蛛饲养员。
is that I am a pretty dang good
spider wrangler.

93
00:05:36,199 –> 00:05:41,199
结网蜘蛛有六种不同的蛛丝
及一种特殊的丝胶,
Orb-weaving spiders have six different
kinds of silk and a special silk glue,

94
00:05:41,199 –> 00:05:45,822
它们使用这些蛛丝
可以创造一个平衡的蛛网,
and they use these silks
to create a balanced web

95
00:05:45,822 –> 00:05:48,843
兼具弹性和强度。
that has both elasticity and strength.

96
00:05:48,843 –> 00:05:53,613
现在,这些蛛丝中每一根
都被隔离在腹部的腺体中。
Now, each one of these silks is
sequestered in a gland in their abdomen,

97
00:05:53,613 –> 00:05:57,085
那是一个用于特定目的
的专用腺体。
and it’s a specialized gland
for a specific purpose.

98
00:05:57,085 –> 00:06:02,725
这就像我们有唾液腺来品尝甜味,
咸味或苦味的食物。
It would be like us having saliva glands
to taste sweet, salty, or bitter foods.

99
00:06:03,542 –> 00:06:07,649
现在,问题在于
我们只关心这蛛丝之一,
Now, the problem here is that
we only care about one of these silks,

100
00:06:07,649 –> 00:06:09,246
就是拉线丝。
just the dragline silk.

101
00:06:09,246 –> 00:06:12,509
那就是当蜘蛛从天花板落下时
That’s the one that
when a spider falls from the ceiling,

102
00:06:12,509 –> 00:06:13,839
所使用的。
that’s what they’re using.

103
00:06:14,488 –> 00:06:16,210
这是我们关心的。
That’s the one we care about.

104
00:06:16,210 –> 00:06:21,110
但它们也产生鞭状的丝,
如橡皮筋一样有弹性,
But they also make flagelliform silks,
that are as stretchy as rubber bands

105
00:06:21,110 –> 00:06:24,549
并形成蛛网上的
具有弹性的捕捉螺旋。
and form the elastic
capture spiral of their web.

106
00:06:24,549 –> 00:06:26,985
那么我们如何分离单根?
So how do we isolate a single strand?

107
00:06:26,985 –> 00:06:28,535
那么,我们会这样做。
Well, we’ll get to that.

108
00:06:30,170 –> 00:06:33,830
蜘蛛丝和我们的肌肉一样,
几乎全部由蛋白质组成。
Spider silk, like our muscles,
is almost entirely made of protein,

109
00:06:33,832 –> 00:06:38,008
每种蛋白质都是由
像由乐高积木的块组成的。
and each of these proteins
is made up of Lego-like building blocks.

110
00:06:38,008 –> 00:06:41,327
现在,蜘蛛有一个蓝色的“乐高”,
给它们弹性;
Now, spiders have a blue Lego
that gives them elasticity,

111
00:06:41,327 –> 00:06:44,145
一个黄色的“乐高”,
给它们的力量。
and a yellow Lego
that gives them strength,

112
00:06:44,145 –> 00:06:49,376
这就好比蜘蛛是
天生的“乐高建设者”,
which means that spiders
were the original Lego builders,

113
00:06:49,376 –> 00:06:52,204
它们已经掌握了这样做的艺术。
and they have mastered
the art of doing this.

114
00:06:52,204 –> 00:06:55,719
因此,将这些复杂的分子概念
So by distilling these complex
molecular concepts

115
00:06:55,719 –> 00:06:58,161
提炼成“乐高玩具”的模式,
into just pattern building with Legos,

116
00:06:58,161 –> 00:07:00,861
任何人都可以操纵蜘蛛丝。
anybody can manipulate spider silk.

117
00:07:04,333 –> 00:07:08,545
事实上,
蜘蛛并不是唯一的“乐高建造者”。
In fact, spiders are not
the only Lego builders around.

118
00:07:08,545 –> 00:07:11,115
它们不是唯一
玩过“乐高”的玩家。
They’re not the only ones
that have been playing Legos.

119
00:07:11,530 –> 00:07:15,240
目前,我们能够在我们的环境中
找到我们身边的“乐高”。
Currently, we’ve been able to find Legos
all around us in our environment.

120
00:07:15,784 –> 00:07:19,114
最近,
我们发现了一种肝素结合“乐高”。
Right now, we’ve found
a heparin-binding Lego.

121
00:07:19,464 –> 00:07:23,366
肝素是一种可以防止血液凝结的分子。
Now, heparin is a molecule in your body
that prevents blood clots,

122
00:07:23,366 –> 00:07:28,172
但是很酷的是,
这种“乐高”可以预防感染。
but the cool thing about this Lego
is it can also prevent infections.

123
00:07:28,172 –> 00:07:29,442
这多么酷啊!
How cool is that?

124
00:07:29,912 –> 00:07:33,572
因为事实证明,
当我们将它与蜘蛛丝混合在一起时,
Because it turns out that
when we mix it together with spider silk,

125
00:07:33,572 –> 00:07:36,242
我们可以为输尿管造涂层。
we can create a coating for a catheter.

126
00:07:36,242 –> 00:07:39,609
现在,
如果你的输尿管出现血块,
Now, if you get a blood clot
around a catheter,

127
00:07:39,609 –> 00:07:41,608
你很可能会感染,
you’re far more likely
to get an infection,

128
00:07:41,608 –> 00:07:45,131
如果感染了,
你更可能会得到血块。
and if you get an infection, you are
a lot more likely to get a blood clot.

129
00:07:45,131 –> 00:07:48,686
所以问题在于医生们
把这些看作是两件独立的事情。
So the problem is that physicians
treat these as two separate things,

130
00:07:48,686 –> 00:07:52,076
但我们知道它们是相同的,
而且它们是相关的。
but we know that they’re the same
and they’re connected.

131
00:07:52,076 –> 00:07:56,232
因此生产既能抵抗感染
又能抵抗血块的涂层
So producing a coating that can
both resist infection and blood clots

132
00:07:56,232 –> 00:07:58,402
是一项重大进步。
is a significant advancement.

133
00:07:59,901 –> 00:08:03,170
我最近的一个项目,
我真的很兴奋,
My latest project,
and one I’m really excited about,

134
00:08:03,170 –> 00:08:07,064
我们发现了一种绿色“乐高”。
它会与细菌相互作用,
is we found a green Lego
that will interact with bacteria,

135
00:08:07,064 –> 00:08:10,269
并与 MRSA 和医院内感染相互作用。
and it interacts with MRSA
and hospital-acquired infections.

136
00:08:10,649 –> 00:08:15,151
所以我们把它和蜘蛛丝混在一起,
我们制造了一个泡沫。
So we mixed that in with spider silk,
and we created a bubble,

137
00:08:15,151 –> 00:08:18,333
在那个泡沫里,我们放了抗生素。
and in that bubble, we put antibiotics.

138
00:08:18,333 –> 00:08:22,183
现在那个泡沫只会在
感染的情况下破裂。
Now that bubble will only burst
in the presence of an infection.

139
00:08:22,659 –> 00:08:23,915
这将有助于我们防止
That will help us prevent

140
00:08:23,915 –> 00:08:26,233
抗生素耐药细菌的发展
antibiotic-resistant
bacteria from developing

141
00:08:26,233 –> 00:08:28,653
并保护周围的组织。
and protect the tissues that surround it.

142
00:08:29,370 –> 00:08:33,930
现在,我刚才讨论的
这两个应用都需要一个解决方案,
Now, both of these applications that
I just talked about require a solution,

143
00:08:33,930 –> 00:08:36,693
但是一些应用可能需要一种纤维。
but some applications may require a fiber.

144
00:08:37,392 –> 00:08:40,743
为了生产具有适当机械性能的纤维,
In order to produce a fiber
with the proper mechanical properties,

145
00:08:40,743 –> 00:08:44,853
这需要平衡蛋白质的结构,序列
it requires a balance
of protein structure and sequence,

146
00:08:44,853 –> 00:08:46,103
以及旋扭性。
and spinning.

147
00:08:46,716 –> 00:08:49,519
不幸的是,
这就是我们现在看起来的样子。
Unfortunately, this is
what we look like right now.

148
00:08:49,519 –> 00:08:52,179
我们知道很多蛋白质序列的知识,
We know a lot about the protein sequence

149
00:08:52,179 –> 00:08:55,221
以及纺制纤维的知识。
and a lot less about
how to spin the fiber.

150
00:08:55,221 –> 00:08:56,485
所以,我们知道:
So, here’s what we know:

151
00:08:57,115 –> 00:09:01,555
我们知道蜘蛛产生蛛丝更像生产牙线,
We know that spiders produce
their silk a lot more like floss,

152
00:09:02,201 –> 00:09:06,361
而实验室的科学家生产的蛛丝更像牙膏。
and scientists in labs produce their silk
a lot more like toothpaste.

153
00:09:06,864 –> 00:09:08,453
现在,我不确定你们有多少人
Now, I’m not sure how many of you

154
00:09:08,453 –> 00:09:12,483
曾经在浴室里因失控的牙线而崩溃。
have ever had an uncontrolled
floss meltdown in the bathroom,

155
00:09:12,483 –> 00:09:16,847
但如果你试图用牙膏帮助一个两岁的孩子,
but if you have tried to help
a two-year-old with toothpaste,

156
00:09:17,447 –> 00:09:20,860
你会知道多么的混乱和不受控制。
you know how messy
and uncontrolled that can be.

157
00:09:23,164 –> 00:09:25,979
为了更多地了解它们的纺制系统,
In order to learn more
about their spinning system,

158
00:09:25,979 –> 00:09:29,249
我们必须直接从蜘蛛身上取丝。
we have to take the fiber
directly from the spider.

159
00:09:29,249 –> 00:09:31,459
再一次,我们只对这个感兴趣。
Again, we’re only interested in the one.

160
00:09:31,978 –> 00:09:34,325
所以,正如你所想象的那样,
So, as you might imagine,

161
00:09:34,325 –> 00:09:37,695
蜘蛛可能不像我们想的那样配合。
spiders are maybe not
as cooperative with this as we’d like.

162
00:09:38,289 –> 00:09:41,141
所以我们必须要做的
就是将它们敲出来,
So what we have to do
is we knock them out,

163
00:09:41,141 –> 00:09:43,379
然后快速将它们粘在背上,
and then we quickly
tape them down on their back

164
00:09:43,379 –> 00:09:45,239
在它们能够抽回之前。
before they can get back up.

165
00:09:45,239 –> 00:09:49,181
我们给它们绑一个“安全带”,
让它们不会四处走动,
We give them a little seat belt
so that they don’t move around,

166
00:09:49,181 –> 00:09:51,201
我们给它们一些食物
来分散它们的注意力,
and we give them
some food to distract them

167
00:09:51,201 –> 00:09:53,761
正所谓胖并快乐着,对吧?
because as they say, fat and happy, right?

168
00:09:54,503 –> 00:09:59,883
然后,我们就开始把丝拉出来,
就像拉牙线一样。
So, then we start pulling the silk out,
and we pull it like floss –

169
00:10:00,447 –> 00:10:03,757
当然,我们至少需要用
钩才能把牙线拉出来。
well, at least floss
if you used a drill to pull it out.

170
00:10:04,702 –> 00:10:08,757
现在,因为这些蜘蛛
生产出六种不同的丝,
Now, because these spiders
produce the six different kinds of silk

171
00:10:08,757 –> 00:10:10,514
我们只需要其中一种,
and we only want the one,

172
00:10:11,324 –> 00:10:13,485
这有点难以操作。
that’s a little difficult to manipulate,

173
00:10:13,485 –> 00:10:15,824
所以我们必须在显微镜下进行。
so we have to do it under a microscope.

174
00:10:15,824 –> 00:10:20,794
这些纤维中的每一根都是
头发丝直径的 1/10 至 1/100,
Each of these fibers is 1/10 to 1/100
the diameter of a single human hair,

175
00:10:20,794 –> 00:10:24,026
我很确定这是为什么
我开始每天戴眼镜,
which I’m pretty sure is why
I had to start wearing glasses full-time

176
00:10:24,026 –> 00:10:25,366
在研究生院的时候。
at graduate school.

177
00:10:27,585 –> 00:10:31,596
顺利的话,
每只蜘蛛都会生产一小时的丝,
On a good day, each spider
produces silk for one hour,

178
00:10:31,596 –> 00:10:34,225
总长就有一个足球场。
and that’s one football field in length.

179
00:10:34,225 –> 00:10:35,725
那有多惊人?
How amazing is that?

180
00:10:36,971 –> 00:10:39,271
蜘蛛侠对这些家伙没有任何帮助。
Spider-Man has nothing on these guys.

181
00:10:40,102 –> 00:10:42,485
不幸的是,当你把它们捆在一起时,
Unfortunately, when you
bundle that all together,

182
00:10:42,485 –> 00:10:44,370
它的尺寸小于豌豆的尺寸,
it’s less than the size of a pea,

183
00:10:44,370 –> 00:10:46,480
所以我们必须想出一个更好的方法。
so we have to come up with a better way.

184
00:10:47,412 –> 00:10:51,223
所以最近我们开始
3D 打印一个蛛丝纺制设备,
So lately we started
3D printing a silk-spinning device

185
00:10:51,223 –> 00:10:53,594
它更像蜘蛛做的那样。
that does it a lot more
like spiders do it.

186
00:10:54,014 –> 00:10:56,842
两岁小孩和牙膏的日子
已经一去不复返了;
Gone are the days
of two-year-olds and toothpaste;

187
00:10:56,842 –> 00:10:59,282
我们现在更像少年和牙膏。
we’re now more like
teenagers and toothpaste.

188
00:11:00,393 –> 00:11:03,700
此外,我们正在努力
混入一个分子或者新的“乐高”,
Furthermore, we’re working to mix in
a molecule or a new Lego

189
00:11:03,700 –> 00:11:07,135
以响应皮肤的压力和温度,
that will respond to the pressure
and temperature of your skin

190
00:11:07,135 –> 00:11:10,478
以便我们可以将蛛丝
装进压迫绷带中。
so that we can incorporate silk
into a compression bandage.

191
00:11:10,928 –> 00:11:12,221
试想一下。
Just think of it.

192
00:11:12,221 –> 00:11:13,560
你扭伤了脚踝,
You sprain your ankle,

193
00:11:13,560 –> 00:11:16,050
你必须用压迫绷带包裹它。
and you have to go wrap it
with a compression bandage

194
00:11:16,050 –> 00:11:17,270
当你坐下时。
when you’re sitting down.

195
00:11:17,270 –> 00:11:20,110
当你站起来时,它太紧或太松。
When you stand up,
it’s either too tight or too loose.

196
00:11:20,790 –> 00:11:22,722
然后你必须重新包扎它。
Then you have to wrap it again.

197
00:11:22,722 –> 00:11:28,304
但是如果有蜘蛛丝制成的绷带,
But what if there was a bandage
made of spider silk –

198
00:11:28,304 –> 00:11:32,544
我们称它为“金丝”绷带。
例如,
let’s call it the Goldilocks Silk
bandage, for example –

199
00:11:32,544 –> 00:11:34,719
当你包扎它时,
that when you wrapped it,

200
00:11:34,719 –> 00:11:37,920
对合适的压力作出反应
responded to the proper set of compression

201
00:11:37,920 –> 00:11:40,200
并给予恰到好处的压力?
and gave you just the right amount?

202
00:11:42,477 –> 00:11:45,017
控制潜在的丝蛋白
Controlling the underlying silk protein

203
00:11:45,017 –> 00:11:48,487
将导致几乎无尽的各种应用。
will lead to an almost endless
variety of applications.

204
00:11:49,450 –> 00:11:53,800
事实上,
你可能会说它只受到你的想象力的限制。
In fact, you may say
it’s only limited by your imagination.

205
00:11:54,422 –> 00:11:57,478
虽然蜘蛛可能仍会唤起你的恐惧感,
Although spiders may still
evoke a sense of fear in you

206
00:11:57,478 –> 00:11:59,683
你可能并不都会冲上去抓着 Roise。
and you may not all rush up to hold Rosie,

207
00:12:00,293 –> 00:12:03,523
但我希望你现在可以欣赏蛛丝的美丽。
I hope that you can now
appreciate the beauty of their silk.

208
00:12:04,073 –> 00:12:07,496
蛛丝正在强化我们的生产方式。
Their silk is strengthening
the way in which we produce –

209
00:12:07,496 –> 00:12:09,966
哦,现在她想围着你们转转。
oh, now she’s going
to move around here for you –

210
00:12:10,445 –> 00:12:13,486
我们生产和制造新材料的方式,
the way we produce
and manufacture new materials,

211
00:12:13,486 –> 00:12:16,036
而我们才刚刚开始这一旅程。
and we’ve only just begun in this journey.