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Bacteria eating plastic produce “spider silk” material
August 1st, 2024
Genetically engineered bacteria consumed plastic to create a bio-inspired "spider silk" protein that could be spun into thread. Images: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute/Dakota Pace Turning waste plastic into a valuable resource is under investigation by researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), who fed it to bacteria and came up with a “bio-inspired spider silk.” The scientists […]
Modified silkworms create spider silk
December 1st, 2023
Spider silk fibers produced by genetically modified silkworms. Image: Donghua University/Junpeng Mi Production of spider silk on a commercial scale may soon be possible. Chinese scientists recently synthesized full-length fibers thanks to genetically modified silkworms. Spider silk is known for both its tensile strength and fiber toughness, and the researchers are “challenging the conventional notion […]
Kraig Biocraft readies shipment for spider silk production
November 24th, 2020
Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc. has announced that it has completed production and genetic screening of its latest batch of spider silk silkworm eggs. These specialized silkworm eggs are now ready for shipment to Vietnam to restart commercial production. Production operations at the company’s factory were suspended in March due to a mandatory shutdown, resulting from […]
Spider silk builds strong bones
September 1st, 2018
The process of mending broken bones can be long and difficult. Load-bearing bones sometimes require a metal plate for support, which can lead to other problems such as irritation and rigidity. Researchers at the University of Connecticut decided to turn to nature for a solution. Led by Professor Mei Wei, the team investigated silk fibroin, […]
Silk fiber implant helps restore hearing
September 1st, 2017
As many as 330 million people worldwide suffer from Chronic Middle Ear Disease, a debilitating condition that is the most common cause of perforated eardrums. It can cause hearing loss and great pain when there is damage to the eardrum and mastoid bone. A team of scientists at the Ear Science Institute Australia and the […]
Cutting-edge fabric innovation: technology that serves the customer
June 1st, 2017
The cutting edge of fabric innovation—generating energy, stopping bullets, fighting pollution and keeping feet happy at the same time. Partnering against pollution It’s no longer just a prototype: The first adidas running shoe made almost completely out of plastic recovered from the ocean officially launched earlier this year. The company hopes to sell 1 million […]
Soft sensors
December 1st, 2016
Flexible data collectors that can be worn on (and eventually, in) the body have great promise for patient-focused health care, but there are privacy concerns. The market for smart sensors is expected to grow from $18.58 billion in 2015 to more than $57 billion by 2022, according to a report published this summer by MarketsandMarkets […]