Spider Silk & Steel
Origin information
Published July 29, 2010 | Author Andy Soos, ENN
Link to original source » enn.com
Made aware of by Twitter user » @greencounternet
QUOTE
Spider silk is as strong as many industrial fibers. There is commercial interest in duplicating spider silk artificially, since spiders use renewable materials as input and operate at room temperature, low pressures and using water as a solvent. However, it has been difficult to find a commercially viable process to mass produce spider silk.
DESCRIPTION
Easy to read article, describing the fascinating characteristics of spider silk and the difficulties producing a similar fibre artificially. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon, the Republic of Korea, came up with an interesting solution – they let bacteria do the work.
FULL ARTICLE
Link to original source » enn.com | Link to scientific institute » kaist.edu
CORRESPONDING ARTICLE
Including video “See how silkworms and spiders work their magic.”
Press Release 10-129 | July 29, 2010
Link to » nsf.gov