[Comfort]Spider Goats: Milking Goats for their Silk

At Utah State University,  a new kind of silk is being produced.  Professor Randy Lewis has been working on genetically modifying goats so they can produce spider silk.  Nicknamed “ spider goats ”,  these remarkable creatures are actually capable of producing silk.

Genetically Modified for Success

To get the goats to produce silk, Professor Randy Lewis added genes from spiders into the goats DNA. Although the goat looks like any other of its kind, it comes with a remarkable capability. These goats are milked like they normally would be and the goat’s milk appears to be exactly the same. If the milk is analyzed, there would be only one major difference.  Within the fresh milk, an extra protein enzyme normally found in spider silk can be found. Once this is produced, the milk can be processed so to make silk.

Reactions

Despite the controversy over genetically modified animals, the new breed of goats has helped to allay animal rights activists over the source of silk. Without causing any harm to the goat, silk is produced for clothes and industrial usage.

This new form of genetically altering animals is known as synthetic biology. To people like Randy Lewis, genetically mutating creatures is just the most recent advance in agriculture. Born into a farming family, he is accustomed to the demands of a farmer’s life. In order to create spider goats, Professor Lewis took a strand of genetic material from an orb-weaver spider and placed it within an egg from a female goat. Once the goat grew up, it was able to give off spider-silk protein when it lactated. After the milk is processed, it can be wound around a single glass rod and used to create any silk product.

Future Potential

Along with its well-known softness, silk is an exceptionally durable material. Scientists have already discovered that it can be extremely elastic and placed in the body for ligament repair. Unlike other substances, the human body does not react negatively to silk. This means that the medical field can use silk in humans without it causing inflammation or illness. As technology grows, scientists will be able to discover more unusual properties for this exceptional material.

Sources:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/jan/14/synthetic-biology-spider-goat-genetics
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16554357

[Comfort]Irrational Rationale

In our search for self-actualization we often endeavor on mysterious paths that lead to irrational behavior, seemingly rational at the time.

This poses a question which to me still remains unanswered:
Why do some people spend many hours and much money on being fashionable, whilst others seem to be content with whatever?

I think this dilemma is amplified when it comes to underwear, since it is worn under the clothes, mostly unseen and not-admired by others. Is it the way sexy and sensual underwear makes us feel or is it in the way we fashionably express ourselves without being scrutinized by the lurking and critical eyes of society?
Suggesting the feeling of temptation and the promise of passion to come, might not be far off.The amazing softness of silk and the comfort this unique fabric brings to its user might lead us to the answer.
Silk garments are often complimented with lace detail that adds to the allure of this highly sought after fabric. Often wearing silk lingerie, I have found it to be more arousing than any other fabric. High quality lingerie undoubtedly pleases the eye, but the confidence factor it provides the human psyche, I believe is yet unmatched.

Wearing silk underwear gives me a sense of accomplishment and pride, even though my body is definitely not on par with the Kims and the Julias of the world. It makes me feel content in an unexpected and inexplicable way, as if the world melts away in its own misery.

So, why do some people bluntly not care about this and others like me are completely hooked on it?
I guess you might have your own opinions on this and I wish we can unequivocally find the source of the phenomena. But for now I wish you to, if you are one of the unenlightened ones, take the chance and be brave.
Take a look at the amazing variety Narasilk offers and be good to yourself. They truly cater for any size or style and what is more, each product is made to order, delivering unmatched tailoring-precision and craftsmanship.

[Comfort]Stone, Bone and Silk Age

Time marches on and here it is: Fall 2012.  My birthday is October, stunned about how fast this year went by, I find myself miserable.

The other day I went through my closets and drawers, hopefully discovering the real me, or motivation to throw out the old stuff and reinvent myself.

I came across a really old silk baby doll, I guess 7 years old or so.  After ravaging my wardrobe and ending up with 2 piles; “out” or “in”, I indulged in a hot bath.  It was the kind of bath where the soap bubbles flooded on the floor with absolutely no regard to the poor me, diligently cleaning up afterwards.

After spending an hour in the bath and another 15 minutes cleaning up, duty called; dinner.  Without hesitation I grabbed the baby doll and slipped it on, it was on top of the “in” pile.

The combined softness of the garment and my “hotly bathed” body was magical.  I felt so sexy!  I was amazed that just 2 hours ago I was deeply down and irritated and here I was re-energized and positive.
I made a promise to myself never again to reach for the baggy T-shirt and sweatpants just because I am at home and nobody will see me.  Now I find myself explicitly and intentionally wearing this still fashionable baby doll.  I figured why save it only for special occasions?  Now every time I get home I look forward to the sensation on my skin and high feeling of self-worth it gives me.

There are many benefits to wearing Sexy Lingerie and Nightwear, the most obvious being the added sex appeal and allure. When you look sexy you feel sexy and your partner is most likely to act upon that.

So the “out” pile is out and I scavenged the web for replacement stuff.  Sitting once again in my silk baby doll, listening to Harry Belafonte’s “A Fool For You” with a great cup of coffee, thunder struck.  It was like a revelation; I discovered Narasilk and their fabulous product range.

Needless to say more…

[Comfort]Looking to the Future: Armor Made from Silk

Within the next few years, scientists believe that they will be able to make body armor from silk. Currently, soldiers must wear armor made of heavy, cumbersome materials. These bulky vests and outfits make it difficult to move and the weight slows the wearer down. If silk can be converted into a kind of body armor, it would become the strongest, lightest and most flexible armor on the market.

Better Protection

Instead of armor that reduces agility, silk offers a better alternative. Law enforcement officials in the United States currently wear Kevlar to protect their body from damage. Described as five times stronger than steel, Kevlar is still far weaker than spider silk. Each strand of spider silk can be more than five times stronger than steel and offers three times the flexibility of Kevlar. This ultra-strong material is lighter than Kevlar and is able to absorb large impacts.

Challenges

Despite the obvious benefit of having silk in body armor, there are still significant obstacles barring its usage. Until recently, it was impossible to manufacture large enough quantities of silk. With the advent of silk-producing goats, scientists are becoming closer to their goal of creating silken armor.

Previously, attempts at farming spiders had failed miserably. When in a closed environment, many kinds of spiders will start to fight or kill each other. Detrimental to a farm’s production levels, this also put massive scale silk production out of the reach of scientists until recent advances.

One way of producing large quantities of silk is easily done with silkworms. Although the silk is much more fragile, a team at the Rakamangala Institute of Technology in Thailand managed to make a set of body armor out of it that is capable of withstand bullets.

If science continues to advance in the field of genetics, researchers may one day be able to create armor out of the bark spider silk. Known as the strongest silk on the planet, bark spider silk is 100 percent stronger than any other form of silk known to man. Once this silk is produced on a large scale, it will be included in fishing ropes, parachutes, armor and artificial tendons. Until that time, scientists can only dream about the possibilities.

[Comfort]Time to tally the score

Maslow depicted the hierarchy of needs, but there is one ever-present basic need that migrates from zero to hero. Depending on interest, personality and others, the time spent hunting and gathering clothes is a huge deal.

The endless spectrum of colors, fabrics and styles protect and decorate our bodies, or so we might think. The skin being our biggest external organ is subject to irritation, discomfort and disease caused by the fabric we wear. We spend countless hours in our clothes, and yet the health related issues are often overlooked and disregarded.

Fabrics consist of fibers, natural or artificial. To ultimately produce a desirable garment, some fabrics undergo a wide variety of processes, the main concern being the chemical processes utilized within these. More often than not artificial fabrics like polyester, acrylic, rayon, acetate and triacetate, and nylon undergo a wide array of toxic processes to ultimately produce garments that are wrinkle-free, fire retardant, static and stain resistant, insect repellent and colorful.

Natural fibers may also be subjected to chemical processes, which inherently provide the wearer with the aforementioned benefits. Coincidently, it is within the dying process where the biggest of all culprits can be found; artificial dyes. So what are the differences between toxic and non-toxic artificial fibers? Quite simply, the manufacturer of the garment and the processes used, make up the differences.

Due to its natural protein structure, silk is the most hypoallergenic of all fabrics. It has natural temperature-regulating properties, making it an all-climate fabric which lets your skin breathe. Silk is robust and strong, wrinkle and tear resistant. Silk fabric takes color well, which allows the use of all natural dyes, once again dependent on the manufacturer.

Silk is the best of both worlds, being healthy and luxurious. Recent studies delivered some uncommon and surprising facts about silk and its impacts on women’s health. Silk pajamas can help regulate the body’s temperature during menopause, during which hot flashes are common. Silk fabric locks in the skin’s natural moisture, leaving it refreshed and less prone to wrinkles. Silk causes less skin irritation than any other fabric, resulting in a youthful and glowing complexion. Silk underwear helps reduce irritation and redness caused by recurrent vaginal yeast infections. Silk wards off dust mites, mold and fungus, fighting allergies as you wear it.

The benefits of silk garments are endless and sometimes unquantifiable. It was first discovered by the Chinese some five to six thousand years ago, and ever since becoming increasingly more popular in the heavily polluted world we live in. It is a safe-haven for your skin, leaving you healthier. Narasilk, pays homage to its ancestors, producing silk and silk garments of exceptional quality. All garments are subject to 100% natural processes and only use 100% natural dyes.

[Comfort]The allied powers of sleep

While climbing the corporate ladder, it quickly became apparent that getting quality sleep was one of my biggest allies, but the lack thereof my toughest and highest hurdle.

Thankfully, I managed to climb the proverbial ladder one step at a time, sleepless night after sleepless night. Southern China, my first business trip abroad, was hot and humid. Mentoring me on this trade expedition was John Pierce, a dear friend and well experienced colleague. Onboard we spoke about many things and I complained to him about not being able to get enough good sleep.

Self-dubbed insomnia extraordinaire, he explained to me that silk being a protein fiber and a non-conductor of heat makes it suitable for winter and its excellent absorptive capacity makes it suitable for summer. He lyrically explained that it is a popular fabric for apparel because of its unique properties. He ended with: “Silk is cool in summer and warm in winter”.

Back home, we quite literally threw out all our sleepwear, new and old, thinking I have followed John blindly before and he always seemed to know best, why not now. We were astonished to see the varieties of styles and colors on offer. It has been two years since we have transformed our sleepwear closet, and what a godsend it is.

The skin is often known as "the largest organ of the human body". This applies to exterior surface, as it covers the body, appearing to have the largest surface area of all the organs. Moreover, it applies to weight, as it weighs more than any single internal organ, accounting for about 15 percent of body weight. For the average adult human, the skin has a surface area of between 1.5-2.0 square meters; most of it is between 2-3 mm thick. The average square inch of skin holds 650 sweat glands, 20 blood vessels, 60,000 melanocytes, and more than a thousand nerve endings.

First, we’ve noticed the way our skin felt in the morning. It felt clean, relaxed and comfortable. Then, as a result, we started experiencing longer and deeper sleep intervals. The soft edges and seems did not leave our skin wrinkled and irritated. The elasticity of silk meant the garments were less sagging and less binding than other fabrics. We have also experimented with different styles ranging from sexy baby dolls for her and boxer shorts for me, to long matching pajama sets and the results were equally impressive throughout.

Silk does not constrict the body’s movement and it keeps the skin feeling fresh and rejuvenated. We often indulge ourselves in the delightful range of garments, sleepwear connoisseur Narasilk has on offer.

[Comfort]Making Medical Implants out of Silk

Making Medical Implants out of Silk       

     

At the University of Illinois, a new kind of electronics is becoming en vogue. Scientist at the university have been working on a silk-based electronic that can dissolve. This state-of-the-art technology is designed to reduce the number of electronic parts in landfills. Medically, it has a number of uses in modern medicine. As an implant, these electronics would be able to dissolve in the body’s fluids without leaving a trace that they were ever there.

Creating Silk Technology

The sophisticated devices are being made by a team at the University of Illinois in conjunction with researchers from Northwestern University and Tufts University. With their unique design, the silk gadgets are turning the way we view electronics around. In the beginning, electronics were made to last forever. Now, researchers are realizing the benefits of sturdy gadgets that can disappear.

Some of these gadgets have already been created. One of the newest lines of electronics is a 64-pixel camera. This unique camera is designed to be implanted into post-surgery patients. It monitors infections and dissolves in a controlled manner. Once the doctor deems the implant no longer necessary, it can dissolve within five seconds. Although the implant has not been tested on humans yet, it was successfully used with lab mice.

Making the Electronics

To create the electronics, researchers have to go through an exceptionally painstaking development process. Each gadget is made out of ultrathin sheets of silicon. These sheets must be made thin enough so that they can dissolve within days once they touch the body. At the same time, the camera must be outfitted with soluble conductors and dialectics. These electronic parts can create transmitters, sensors and other camera components.

For the dissolving process to be controlled, the camera is wrapped in silk. The silk is structured in such a way that it can determine how fast the electronic gadget dissolves. Scientists can select different varieties of silk so that their electronic equipment dissolves over a period of a few minutes to a few years.

Although this technology is not available to the consumer market yet, the possibilities are endless. With the help of silk, scientists can create a new breed of medical implants that are made to work with the body. These gadgets can help to gauge a patient’s recovery process and determine if there is an infection within an incision.