News tagged with silk fibers

Silkworms spinning spider webs

(PhysOrg.com) -- A spiders silk is strong and more elastic and has a large range of possible medical applications. However, spiders have a history of being territorial and prone to cannibalism, so the idea ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Jan 03, 2012 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (15) | comments 4 | with audio podcast report

Shrimp-like crustacean found to make gooey underwater silk

(PhysOrg.com) -- Fritz Vollrath and colleagues from Oxford University have been analyzing the gooey material produced by tiny amphipods known as Crassicorophium bonellii, a small shrimp-like creature that p ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Nov 23, 2011 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (3) | comments 2 | with audio podcast report

First practical scientific test to date and authenticate priceless silk masterpieces

Scientists are reporting development of the first fast and reliable scientific method to determine the age and authenticity of priceless silk tapestries and other treasures -- such as Civil War General Phillip ...

Chemistry / Analytical Chemistry

created Oct 12, 2011 | popularity 4 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Utah researcher helps artist make bulletproof skin

A bio-art project to create bulletproof skin has given a Utah State researcher even more hope his genetically engineered spider silk can be used to help surgeons heal large wounds and create artificial tendons ...

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Aug 22, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 2

Why spiders don't drop off of their threads

It has five times the tensile strength of steel and is stronger then even the best currently available synthetic fibers: Spider thread. German scientists of the Technische Universitaet Muenchen and the Universitaet Bayreuth ...

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Aug 17, 2011 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (4) | comments 3

Scientists genetically engineer silkworms to produce artificial spider silk (w/ Video)

(PhysOrg.com) -- A research and development effort by the University of Notre Dame, the University of Wyoming, and Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. has succeeded in producing transgenic silkworms capable ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Sep 29, 2010 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (23) | comments 9 | with audio podcast

Behind the secrets of silk lie high-tech opportunities

Tougher than a bullet-proof vest yet synonymous with beauty and luxury, silk fibers are a masterpiece of nature whose remarkable properties have yet to be fully replicated in the laboratory.

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Jul 29, 2010 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (10) | comments 2 | with audio podcast

Investigating how spiders spin their silk, researchers unravel a key step

Five times the tensile strength of steel and triple that of the currently best synthetic fibers: Spider silk is a fascinating material. But no one has thus far succeeded in producing the super fibers synthetically. ...

Chemistry / Analytical Chemistry

created May 12, 2010 | popularity 5 / 5 (11) | comments 3 | with audio podcast