Got Silk?
Segment
Read More
16:33
The 4,000-Year History Of Humans And Silk
For her new book, Aarathi Prasad spent years researching the past and future of silk—and even grew her own silkworms.
Article
Read More
Silk, The Ancient Material With High-Tech Possibilities
“Silk: A World History” describes the unique qualities of silk that make it a sustainable material with a wide variety of applications.
Educational Resource
Read More
Dissect a Silkworm Cocoon
Learn about the insect origins of silk by dissecting a cocoon and “degumming” it to reveal the protein that scientists use for constructing new materials.
Video
Watch Video
Shake Your Silk-Maker: The Dance of the Peacock Spider
With their ornately-colored fur, rhythmic pulsations, and booty-shaking dance moves, male peacock spiders attract the attention of spectating females as well as researchers.
Segment
Read More
8:44
The Silky Wonders of Worm Spit
Bioengineers at Tufts University are crafting silk protein into medical, optical, and bioelectronic materials.