Silk and magnesium circuit boards, such as this one, have been implanted in lab mice to heal sores. The wireless devices heat up under the skin to kill infections, later dissolving in the body. It is one of many remarkable alternative uses for silk which Professor Fiorenzo Omenetto and his team at Tufts University in Massachusetts have been experimenting with.
Healing microchip —
Silk and magnesium circuit boards, such as this one, have been implanted in lab mice to heal sores. The wireless devices heat up under the skin to kill infections, later dissolving in the body. It is one of many remarkable alternative uses for silk which Professor Fiorenzo Omenetto and his team at Tufts University in Massachusetts have been experimenting with.
Courtesy Fiorenzo Omenetto
This coffee cup is made entirely from silk, making it biodegradable --and environmentally-friendly.
Coffe cup —
This coffee cup is made entirely from silk, making it biodegradable --and environmentally-friendly.
Courtesy Fiorenzo Omenetto
A type of silk ink was used to write the word "contaminated" on this hospital glove. When the glove comes into contact with bacteria, the word changes color from blue to red.
Bacteria-detecting glove —
A type of silk ink was used to write the word "contaminated" on this hospital glove. When the glove comes into contact with bacteria, the word changes color from blue to red.
Courtesy Fiorenzo Omenetto
Silk is an ancient fiber dating back over 5,000 years to China. The raw material for silk thread is made by larvae that feed off the leaves of mulberry trees. Once found in the wild, now the caterpillars -- called silkworms -- are mostly farmed.<br />Here, a farmer inspects silkworms in Yunnan Province, China.
Story of silk —
Silk is an ancient fiber dating back over 5,000 years to China. The raw material for silk thread is made by larvae that feed off the leaves of mulberry trees. Once found in the wild, now the caterpillars -- called silkworms -- are mostly farmed.
Here, a farmer inspects silkworms in Yunnan Province, China.
China Photos/Getty Images/File
Today, China is still the world's largest producer of silk, making over 800,000 tons per year. Workers can be seen here making a silk quilt at a workshop in Zhejiang Province, China.
Wonder material —
Today, China is still the world's largest producer of silk, making over 800,000 tons per year. Workers can be seen here making a silk quilt at a workshop in Zhejiang Province, China.
China photos/Getty Images/File
Workers sort strands of silk fiber at the Hotan Atlas silk factory, on the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert in northwest China's Xinjiang province. Weaving pure silk, like farming it, takes a long time. It begins with raw material, with each delicate strand strung out, separated into rolls, and dyed. <br />
Ancient traditions —
Workers sort strands of silk fiber at the Hotan Atlas silk factory, on the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert in northwest China's Xinjiang province. Weaving pure silk, like farming it, takes a long time. It begins with raw material, with each delicate strand strung out, separated into rolls, and dyed.
Frederic J. Brown/Getty Images/File
The silkworms of China are a long way from the European and American catwalks. Centuries after this sumptuous textile was first created, it continues to seduce us -- though in the future, its allure may have more to do with science than fashion.<br />
From cocoon to catwalk —
The silkworms of China are a long way from the European and American catwalks. Centuries after this sumptuous textile was first created, it continues to seduce us -- though in the future, its allure may have more to do with science than fashion.
Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images/File