Dutch artist Jalila Essaidi, along with Utah State researcher Randy Lewis have made a swatch of nearly bulletproof skin made from spider silk and human skin cells. The project called “2.6g 329m/s” takes its name from the maximum weight and velocity a Type 1 bulletproof vest can withstand from a .22 calibre Long Rifle bullet.
The intrepid researchers used used genetic engineering by which they grafted spider silk between the epidermis and dermis and rendered the skin bullet proof so it was able to stop a bullet that was fired at a reduced speed. However, it failed to repel a bullet that was fired at normal speed from a .22 calibre rifle.
Essaidi said, “With this work I want to show that safety in its broadest sense is a relative concept, and hence the term bulletproof…The work did stop some partially slowed bullets but not the one at full speed. But even with the skin pierced by the bullet the experiment is still a success. It leads to the conversation about how which form of safety would benefit society.” Lewis hopes the research will lead better and stronger skin grafts for surgery patients.
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