#artificialmuscle

Ever thought about making artificial muscle out of fishing line? Me neither, but some researchers at the University of Texas did. Their new, super-strong muscles look to be, in my opinion, a revolution in our world in the near future.

How is it Possible?

But fishing line isn’t exactly well-known for its durability- a moderately aggressive fish is usually enough to make it snap. How can muscle be made out of it? Reporter Jasmine Bailey states that “The artificial muscles are coiled into a spiral shape, and tighten up in warmer temperatures and loosen back up after being cooled” (Bailey).

How can we use it?

In an ever-changing world, we constantly need better, stronger, more efficient materials to meet our demands. This muscle seems well on its way to meet this goal. Some applications of this muscle are:

For prosthetic limbs

Mechanical exoskeletons, for the handling of heavy and hazardous material, since the muscles can “lift 100 times more weight and have 100 times more mechanical power than human muscles” (Bailey)

As construction material (for example, as cable)

For armor in law enforcement

Hydraulics

Cost-Effective

However, today needs not just great material, but material that can be made at low cost. That’s why the implications of this material are truly astounding, both for medical and robotic science - “The material to build it only cost about $2 a pound” (Bailey).

What’s the Catch?

If scientists begin making artificial limbs out of this new muscle, there will be some problems we will have to face:

Is someone with a super-strong arm made out of coiled fishing equipment truly a human?

Does it matter?

Will people be able to have procedures to replace limbs as they choose?

Will it be exclusively for those who are injured?

If so, is that fair?

These are important philosophical and ethical questions that will inevitably be asked when the situation arises, but as our society changes we need to learn to cope.

What it Means

This material points us in one direction- a world that isn’t easily broken, and can be built on nickels and dimes. It means a world much safer, easier, and efficient to live in, and I personally can’t wait to see what else will be done with it in the future.

Also, I suppose you could still go fishing with it.

Works Cited