Sticky. Stretchy. Waterproof. The Amazing Underwater Tape of the Caddisfly | Deep Look

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What do you do if you are a tiny caddisfly larva growing up in a torrent of water and debris? Simple. You build a shelter out of carefully selected pebbles and some homespun waterproof tape.

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We already mimic them to make fly-fishing lures. But now scientists believe copycatting one tiny insect could hold promise for repairing human tissues and setting bones.

Instead of stitches and screws, doctors may soon call on the next generation of medical adhesives — glues and tape — to patch us up internally.

The inspiration? Caddisflies, a type of stream-dwelling, fish-baiting insects that live in creeks all across the United States.

As a larva, the caddisfly constructs a tiny tube-like house for itself, called a case, entirely underwater, using pebbles and its incredible homespun tape as the mortar.

Thanks to the qualities of this amazing silk, the case not only holds up when submerged, it is strong enough to protect the caddisfly’s soft lower body amid forces many times its body weight.

Any tape, including this one, has two basic components: the flat ribbon, or backing, and the layer of sticky stuff, or the glue. From the materials science standpoint, caddisfly tape is extraordinary in both departments.

Caddisfly silk biomimicry is only in its infancy, but one day, a similar compound might be used inside the body, which is another watery environment, to mend soft tissues and even repair hard ones, such as teeth and bone.

In the streambed, or brook, the caddisfly’s case eventually becomes a cocoon. Like its land-based cousins, the butterflies and moths, from whom it diverged 250 millions years ago, the caddisfly larva undergoes a metamorphosis. It seals up its case with a so-called “hat stone” and emerges months later as a winged adult.

--- Where do caddisflies live?

Caddisflies are most common in shallow, cold, turbulent streams, where the water is highly oxygenated.

--- What do caddisflies eat?

Caddisflies are herbivores, they eat decaying plant matter and algae on the rocks in the streams where they live.

--- What is so special about caddisfly silk?

Engineers are interested in two attributes of caddisfly silk. First of all, it can bond to something, such as a pebble, underwater, which no glue people have made can replicate. Second its “viscoelastic” properties allow to it harmlessly absorb physical forces. When stretched, it doesn’t snap back like a rubber band. It returns to its original shape slowly and safely. It's an engineering marvel.

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Funding for Deep Look is provided in part by PBS Digital Studios and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Deep Look is a project of KQED Science, which is also supported by HopeLab, the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, the Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation, the Vadasz Family Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Smart Family Foundation and the members of KQED.
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This is probably the video I was most suprised at... *They make their own armor.* Damn nature...

j.
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you made it look as big as a crab. but it's good that you showed it at the end

HAB
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Insect: (*Picks up A Diamond*)
Insect: Wrong rock

herminiabenigno
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I've read about people who keep caddisfiy larvae in tanks filled with gems and the cases look amazing

notimeausername
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Whoever does the audio background noises is very talented. I love the subtle bug crawl noises, the gentle sound of water flowing, etc. Love these series of videos. Great work!

SagaciousSilence
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Being honest, this is one of the best edited channels on YouTube that i ever seen, excelent work. . .

reigdaer
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Caddisfly larvae are so awesome!

I've been researching Caddisflies for a Biomimicry class assignment and learned that in addition to shape and size, they are also selecting for texture. Caddisflies need a smooth interior shell to circulate oxygen for respiration inside the case, so the smoother the stones, the less silk required to adhere the case pieces together. If they have to build with rough surface textures, they do, but it requires coating the entire inside with more layers of silk to make it smooth. So in addition to being very skillful builders, they are also incredibly efficient in their building process.

Thanks for this video - they are kind of cute too :D

kikaduk
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"something that has eluded us humans...tape that stays sticky underwater"

Can I convince you by sawing this boat in half?

zama
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Wow, thats some Tech on the larva. They are great builders

alishanmao
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as far as insects go, these ones are pretty cute and non-horrible

lastsaneman
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Wow.. I'd never before heard of that little bugger.

AnTid
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You saying this bug makes NATURAL FLEX SEAL!?!

mpowerewd
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With a tool that has eluded humans, tape that stays sticky underwater...

HI PHIL SWIFT HERE FOR FLEX TAPE, the easiest way to patch, protect, seal and repair! IT EVEN WORKS UNDERWATER!

TomHarper
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This is beautiful. Thank you for existing.

SuperSmellyBob
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I couldn't do this. A fly larva is smarter than me...

ineffablemars
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Level 1: Silk cocoons






Level 100: *Cobblestone armour*

geeworm
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As close to a Rock/Bug type Pokemon in real life as we're gonna get and I LOVE IT!

TCT
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Wow, I really have to say that you guys make amazing videos. I have never even put much thought into what the larva of the caddisfly must be like, and low and behold it's a an amazing work of nature. Wow. I can also say I am just as amazed when it comes to the time it must take to actually film and edit all of this, haha.
I would love to one day see you guys do a video on pitcher plants, there are some amazing ones. Like the Cobra Lily!
Take care!

thinkfact
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1. This is amazing, never heard of them.

2. Now I wonder how many I have accidental killed when hiking down a river. :(

3. Do they bite?

ThatShyGuyMatt
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When they find the stones, it's like me trying to find the right lego brick.

TrikSeSpicatymKloboukem