textiles

Explore "textiles" with insightful episodes like "Smologies #30: SPIDERWEBS with Randy Lewis", "The Wrinkles in Getting ‘Forever Chemicals’ Out of Our Clothes", "Short Stuff: Corduroy" and "Silk of the Spider, Thread of the Future" from podcasts like ""Ologies with Alie Ward", "WSJ’s The Future of Everything", "Stuff You Should Know" and "Stuff To Blow Your Mind"" and more!

Episodes (4)

Smologies #30: SPIDERWEBS with Randy Lewis

Invisible but stronger than steel. Complex architectural marvels. Things that stick to your face. Spiderwebs are much more than just Halloween decor or something to feather dust from your corners. Spider silk expert Dr. Randy Lewis of Utah State University not only coined the word "spidroin" for the proteins comprising the many types of silk, but he is considered one of the foremost experts on the wonders of spiderwebs. Alie visits his lab and chats about how spiders weave them, what the silk is made of, and how realistic your favourite spidey superhero’s antics are. You'll never (not) see a spiderweb the same.

A donation went to the Women's Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Workshop

Full-length (*not* G-rated) Spidroinology episode + tons of science links

More kid-friendly Smologies episodes!

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Sound editing by Steven Ray Morris, Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media, and Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions

Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Kelly R. Dwyer, Emily White, & Erin Talbert

Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm

Ologies with Alie Ward

en-usOctober 30, 2023

The Wrinkles in Getting ‘Forever Chemicals’ Out of Our Clothes

So-called “forever chemicals” are seemingly everywhere. A recent government study found close to half of U.S. tap water contains at least one PFAS chemical. They’re also on a lot of our clothes, where the chemicals are used to promote water resistance or repel stains. But some of the things that make PFAS so effective also means they stay in our bodies for years. And these chemicals have been linked to health issues, including high cholesterol and an increased risk of kidney cancer. Now, as clothing companies look to eliminate PFAS from their products, they’re facing another challenge: what to replace the chemicals with—ideally without sacrificing performance. WSJ’s Alex Ossola dives into the textile industry’s efforts to move on from PFAS and change our expectations around our clothing. Further reading: Lots of Tap Water Contains ‘Forever Chemicals.’ Take These Steps to Reduce Your Risk. What to Know About ‘Forever Chemicals,’ or PFAS, and Your Health How ‘Forever Chemicals’ Are All Around Us, From Winter Coats to Fast-Food Wrappers EPA Proposes Limits for ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water Coastal Town Brings Mass Litigation—and an ‘Existential Threat’—to Chemical Giants Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WSJ’s The Future of Everything

en-usJuly 21, 2023

Short Stuff: Corduroy

Learn 12 minutes worth of stuff about corduroy today!

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stuff You Should Know

enJanuary 08, 2020

Silk of the Spider, Thread of the Future

Spider silk is nothing short of an engineering marvel. Weight for weight, it's stronger than steel and tougher than Kevlar. But spiders are disagreeable creatures. Unlike the silkworms, they've proven unwilling to bow to humanity's domestication, but that hasn't stopped scientists from stealing the secrets. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, enter a world of spider silk medicine, nanomaterials, optics, music and of course transgenic goats.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stuff To Blow Your Mind

enMay 28, 2015

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textiles

Episodes (4)

Smologies #30: SPIDERWEBS with Randy Lewis

The Wrinkles in Getting ‘Forever Chemicals’ Out of Our Clothes

Short Stuff: Corduroy

Silk of the Spider, Thread of the Future