Articles tagged with Silk
Researchers have discovered an ancient irrigation system in northwestern China that allowed farming communities to cultivate crops in one of the world's driest desert climates. The system, built around 3rd or 4th century A.D., used check dams, irrigation canals, and cisterns to feed small farm fields and support livestock production.
Researchers at MIT have developed a method to create reconstituted silk that is more than twice as stiff as its natural counterpart. The material has potential applications in medical sutures, scaffolding for new skin or other biomaterials, and sensing devices.
Researchers at Binghamton University have developed a new type of microphone that uses spider silk to improve directional sensing across a wide range of frequencies. The study, led by Professor Ron Miles and graduate student Jian Zhou, found that the fine fibers are able to pick up velocity rather than pressure of air waves.
Scientists found that mid-latitude circulation anomalies led to a negative YRV rainfall anomaly in August 2016, opposite to the strong positive anomaly in 1998. These anomalies resulted from the 'Silk Road Pattern' and increased anticyclonic circulation over East Asia.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield found that animals spin silk by pulling, not pushing, which could lead to more environmentally-friendly synthetic materials. The new process, known as pultrusion, has the potential to improve how synthetic textiles are processed and reduce environmental damage.
Researchers enhanced spider silk with graphene-based materials, boosting its mechanical properties by up to three times the strength and ten times the toughness. The modified silks show promising applications in high-performance or biodegradable textiles such as parachutes or medical dressings.
Researchers have developed silk-based wearable body sensors with high sensitivity and flexibility, enabled by the use of N-doped carbon and graphene nanoparticles. These sensors can monitor various body functions in real time, enabling more rapid response times for medical professionals.
Scientists develop an artificial silk protein that can be used to engineer cardiac tissue, demonstrating its suitability for repairing damaged heart cells. The protein, eADF4(κ16), was produced in large quantities and shown to support the growth of cardiac cells, with potential implications for treating cardiac insufficiency.
Researchers sequenced and compared apple genomes to reveal a two-way journey for domesticated apples along the Silk Road. The study pinpointed the origin of domesticated apples in Kazakhstan and discovered that they hybridized with local wild apples, yielding modern dessert apples.
Researchers have successfully enhanced spider silk's strength and toughness by incorporating carbon nanotubes or graphene. The resulting silk boasts up to three times the strength and ten times the toughness of regular material.
Researchers have developed microscopic silk capsules that can protect sensitive molecules, such as natural silk proteins, antibodies, and other delicate molecules. These biodegradable capsules may enable the development of new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases by delivering drugs or vaccines intact to target organs.
A team of researchers has successfully manufactured microscopic versions of silkworm cocoons, which can store and protect sensitive molecular materials. The tiny capsules, made from silk nano-fibrils, have the potential to increase the stability and lifetime of antibodies used in pharmaceuticals for treating severe diseases.
A team of architects and chemists from the University of Cambridge has designed super-stretchy and strong fibres almost entirely composed of water. The new method improves upon earlier methods of making synthetic spider silk without high-energy procedures or extensive use of harmful solvents.
Researchers have discovered that dragline silk from golden orb weaver spiders dissipates energy when twisted, preventing it from spinning uncontrollably. This property makes it an attractive material for biomimetic fibers with potential uses in violin strings, helicopter rescue ladders and parachute cords.
A significant warming trend is observed globally since the mid-1990s, with Europe-West Asia and northeast Asia experiencing the most pronounced warming. This warming has led to increased casualties from hot events, with a 23-fold increase in deaths between 2001-2010 and 1991-2000.
Research reveals ground spiders produce exceptionally tough and stretchy silk, but less sticky than other piriform silks, allowing them to ambush prey quickly. The silk's unique properties are adapted to overcome larger prey and arachnids, highlighting the trade-offs in their hunting strategy.
Researchers sequenced the golden orb-weaver spider's genome and identified over 14,000 genes, including those encoding spider silk proteins. The study revealed novel patterns and motifs in these genes that may explain the unique properties of different types of silk.
A recent study led by the University of Nottingham found that wearing silk clothing does not reduce the severity of eczema in children with moderate to severe eczema. The study involved recruiting hospitals across the UK and assessed the effectiveness of specialist silk garments against standard treatment.
A randomized controlled study found no significant difference in eczema severity for children wearing silk garments compared to their usual clothing. The results suggest that silk garments are unlikely to provide additional clinical or economic benefits over standard care.
A team of experts led by Prof. Sabine Schrenk and Ulrike Reichert restored a centuries-old silk tunic attributed to Saint Ambrose, freeing it from its heavy glass pane in Milan. The silk fabric was preserved using a custom-made sandwich of wood, glass, and silk tunic.
Researchers have created a nanoscale damage-sensing probe that can be embedded into lightweight composites made of epoxy and silk. The probe uses a dye that changes color in response to applied force, allowing for the detection of even minor breaks and fissures within the composite material.
Researchers used satellite analysis and GIS to show that 75% of ancient Silk Road sites align with optimal pasture-driven pathways for nomadic herders, revealing new insights into the network's geography
Researchers developed a method to transform silk protein into complex materials that can be easily programmed at the nano-, micro-, and macro-scales. The resulting materials are ultralight, robust, and feature a web-like structure with aerated pores.
Researchers discovered that brown recluse spiders use a micro looping technique to make their threads stronger than other spiders, with the added benefit of preventing premature breakage. This technique could lead to new fibre technology inspired by the spider's silk, potentially improving impact absorbing structures in space travel.
Researchers have discovered a unique type of spider silk that can lift weights with high efficiency and speed. The silk fibers are actuated by water droplets, exhibiting shrink-stretch behavior similar to muscle performance.
Researchers produced artificial silk fibres with tailored properties by self-assembling nanofibrils formed from cow's whey protein under heat and acid. The fibre's strength depends on the balance between nanostructure and fibril entanglement, with curved nanofibrils forming stronger fibres than straight ones.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have created a technique to produce chemically functionalised spider silk that can be tailored for drug delivery, regenerative medicine, and wound healing. The synthetic silk can be 'clicked' with antibiotics or fluorescent dyes using 'click-chemistry', allowing for controlled release.
Researchers at Tufts University have developed a method to embed functional elements in silk-based materials, creating mechanical components that can change color with strain or respond to light. These materials have potential applications in orthopedics, surgery, and household goods.
A Michigan State University professor suggests that China's Belt and Road Initiative (B&R) could be a superhighway of environmental progress with global cooperation. The initiative aims to connect 65 countries and shape world economies, but it also creates routes filled with opportunity for sustainability advancements.
Research confirms spider webs are superbly tuned instruments for vibration transmission, with web tension and stiffness controlling information sent. Spiders use web vibrations to detect prey and predators, with their 'view' relying almost exclusively on this sensory input.
Researchers at Bangor University have achieved a world first by using dragline silk from the golden web spider as an additional superlens to provide up to 2-3 times magnification. This innovation enables viewing of previously invisible structures, including nano-structures and biological micro-structures.
Scientists at Rice University found a phonon band gap in spider silk, enabling the material to block certain frequencies of sound waves. This discovery has implications for creating tunable, dynamic metamaterials with novel sound or thermal insulation properties.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield have developed biodegradable and harmless silk micro-rockets using innovative 3D inkjet printing. These devices can be used in drug delivery and locating cancer cells, and have the potential to revolutionize safe biological environments.
A new study from RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science reveals that amino acid sequences are key determinants of silk fiber material properties. The research sheds light on the unique properties of silkworm silks, including their mechanical and thermal behavior.
Researchers discovered a unique 'hybrid' material in spider webs that maintains tautness even under stress. By mimicking this process, they created composite fibres with solid and liquid properties.
Researchers at Tufts University have developed a method to stabilize blood samples for long periods without refrigeration, using air-dried silk protein. This technique has broad applications for clinical care and research, particularly for underserved populations.
Tufts researchers have discovered that applying an ultra-thin silk coating can extend the shelf life of delicate fruits like strawberries and bananas. The biocompatible coating slows down fruit respiration, extends firmness, and prevents decay.
The discovery of ancient Nepali textiles dating back to 400-650 AD has pushed the understanding of the Silk Road's southern extent. Textile analyses suggest that imported materials from China and India were used in combination with locally produced ones.
A team of researchers found that squid suckerin proteins are composed of beta-sheet polymer networks, giving them strength and stretchiness. These thermoplastic proteins could be used to create biomaterials for tissue growth and artificial ligaments, offering a sustainable alternative.
Researchers use light to measure the 'big stretch' in spider silk proteins, shedding light on biological events such as cancer metastasis. The tool allows for real-time measurement of forces acting on proteins in live cells.
Researchers find oil-based pesticides outperform water-based counterparts in killing contents of brown widow spider egg sacs. The silk layer's hydrophobic properties hindered water-based pesticide penetration, but oil-based aerosols effectively breached this barrier.
Researchers develop new targeted delivery method using silk sponge to reduce chemotherapy's toxic effects on children with neuroblastoma. The approach slows tumor growth and reduces systemic toxicity, offering a promising alternative to traditional chemotherapy.
Scientists developed a silk-based ink that can be used to print complex tissues with versatile functions, including loading with pharmaceuticals. The novel material is biocompatible, flexible, and stable in water, avoiding harsh processing conditions that damage cells.
A Japanese wasp has been found to control its zombie spider host to build a reinforced cocoon web for pupa development. The spiders were manipulated to remove their sticky spiral, reinforce radial and frame threads, and add decorative fibrous structures.
In a surprising display of courtship behavior, male black widow spiders destroy large sections of the female's web and wrap it up in their own silk. This home-wrecking behavior makes the web less attractive to rival males, potentially protecting the female from harassment and allowing her to focus on parenting.
Researchers exploring strategies in biology to create different mechanical properties, such as draglines and pheromonal trails, reveal principles that inform new material designs. By understanding nanoconfinement and the role of mechanics in biological systems, scientists can speed up discovery and develop innovative materials.
Researchers found that spiders adopt postures to control wind direction while on water, allowing them to 'sail' in turbulent conditions. This behavior compensates for the risks of landing on water after uncontrolled flights, enabling spiders to survive in aquatic environments.
Researchers at Tufts University developed inkjet-printable silk inks containing enzymes, antibiotics, and nanoparticles for therapeutics, regenerative medicine, and biosensing. The inks can stabilize compounds over time, enabling applications such as smart bandages and bacteria-sensing gloves.
Montreal researchers have created a polymer fibre with remarkable strength and elasticity, similar to spider silk. The fibre is made using a unique manufacturing process that mimics the natural structure of spider silk, making it suitable for various applications such as aircraft engine casings, surgical devices, and bulletproof clothing.
Scientists have successfully produced samples of strong and resilient synthetic silk with properties tailored for biomedical applications. The new material is created by genetically modifying bacteria to produce spider-like proteins, which are then extruded through microfluidic channels to form fibers.
An investigation by The BMJ found that 38 MPs have accepted over £60,000 worth of tobacco industry hospitality since 2010. More than half of these MPs are from constituencies with higher rates of smoking-related deaths. The study also revealed that 20 of the 38 who had accepted industry hospitality voted against plain packaging.
Scientists create 3D-printed synthetic spider webs using multiscale modeling and mechanical analysis, offering insight into how spiders optimize their own webs. The study reveals a significant relationship between web structure, loading points, and failure mechanisms.
Scientists have developed a new, 'green' way to improve lithium-ion battery performance using a carbon-based nanosheet derived from silk. The material stores five times more lithium than graphite, critical for improving battery life.
Researchers create first three-dimensional tissue system that reproduces human bone marrow and generates functional human platelets. The system provides a laboratory model for studying blood disorders and predicting drug efficacy, with potential applications in regenerative medicine and patient-specific treatments.
Scientists at Dalhousie University have developed a new method to create artificial spider silk using its molecular structure. By understanding the relationship between the protein's structure and function, researchers can now optimize smaller components before linking them together, making it easier to produce high-quality fibers.
Researchers studied the 'garden centre spider' to understand how it spins ultra-fine filaments. The spider uses electrically charged threads to create 'catching wool', which is made of thousands of nano-scale filaments that are combed out and charged.
Researchers at Tufts University have developed a resorbable electronic implant that eliminates bacterial infection by delivering heat to infected tissue via wireless signals. The devices were found to be safe and effective in mice, dissolving completely after 15 days without causing harm.
A new study of intergroup aggression in chimpanzees and bonobos finds that lethal aggression is an adaptive strategy, not a result of human impacts. Analysis of 152 lethal attacks reveals that killing other group members is part of the natural behavioral repertoire of chimpanzees.
Researchers discovered that carbonic anhydrase generates CO2 and H+ ions, driving the conversion of soluble spidroins to solid silk fibers. The 'lock and trigger' model proposes pairing up N-terminal domains locks spidroins into a network, while C-terminal domain changes trigger rapid polymerization.
Researchers have identified proteins in squid sucker ring teeth that can form strong, malleable materials for various applications. These materials may be used as artificial ligaments, scaffolds to grow bone, and sustainable packaging alternatives to traditional fossil fuel-based products.