Mirror Daily

Thursday, February 25, 2021
Log in
  • Home
  • National & Global News
  • Business & Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Health
  • About Mirror Daily
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy GDPR
  • Latest News
    • The Geological Features of Pluto Have Just Gotten Dark Names Inspired from the Underworld
    • The Abuse of Imodium
    • McDonald’s Salads are worse than their Burgers
    • US Family Sues Hospital Over Botched Tonsillectomy
    • Should We Go Back to The Moon?
    • Photo of Gay Military Men Kissing Goes Viral

Pages

  • About Mirror Daily
  • Contact Us
  • Fossil Reveals That Dinosaurs Suffered from Arthritis
  • Our Team
  • Privacy Policy GDPR
  • Terms of Use
  • World Breastfeeding Week: Advantages and Disadvantages

Recent Posts

  • Canadian Teen Killed by Toxic Shock Syndrome on School Trip June 29, 2018
  • Donut Fries Coming to Dunkin’ Donuts Nationwide June 28, 2018
  • Kohl’s Hiring Workers for Holiday Season amid Labor Shortage June 28, 2018
  • This is How You’re Sabotaging Your Skin Safety June 27, 2018
  • SF Woman Calls Cops on Little Girl for Selling Water on Street June 26, 2018
  • Sarah Sanders Misused Official Twitter Account to Complain about Restaurant June 25, 2018
  • Man Arrested for Placing 10-Ft-Long Heroin Spoon Outside Drug Maker HQ June 25, 2018

Silkworms Eating Graphene Produce Stronger Silk

October 12, 2016 By Matthew Slotkin

silkworms eating leaves

Silkworms eating graphene produce strong silk

(Mirror Daily, United States) Researchers are truly impressed by the powers of tiny insects. A new experiment showed that silkworms eating graphene are able of producing stronger, thicker silk. What’s more, the material can be used to conduct electricity. Scientists provide us with more details on their latest achievement.

A team of specialists in China came up with the idea of changing the diet of silkworms. Now, how do they get the insects to eat graphene? That’s simple. All they did was cover regular leaves in a solution containing graphene. The silkworms didn’t even feel the difference.

Graphene is a carbon form which, fed on silkworms, has impressive effects on the quality of the silk they produce. The researchers conducting the study observed that the new form of silk was thicker, hence stronger. The discovery is highly important because it proves that there is an easy way of obtaining high-quality silk.

There are many advantages of strong silk. Both the research field and the industry are interested in them. Silk can be used for manufacturing valuable clothing items. Moreover, the properties of strong silk and those of graphene could bring further improvements in the research field.

According to scientists, the new type of silk obtained from the silkworms eating graphene is two times stronger than usual silk. This means that it also has enhanced resistance, which is fifty percent higher than before.

The scientists put the silk to the test. They discovered its conductive properties after heating it.

However, the researchers explained that there are several reasons why they need to carry on with their experiment. First of all, they must document the precise process which makes silkworms incorporate the micro carbon elements. Secondly, they also need to investigate the ratio between the amount of graphene that the silkworms consume and the amount they actually use for producing silk. In order to find out, scientists must determine the exact quantity of the substance that silkworms eliminate from their bodies.

The Chinese team made an important discovery with their experiment. It stands as proof that strong and high-quality silk can be obtained through a quite natural process. Although the larvae are fed substances that don’t belong in their natural diet, the process of producing silk is still natural.

Specialists have been trying to boost the resistance of silk using chemical processes on the material. However, there is no need of that anymore. The new study on silkworms eating graphene was published in Nano Letters.

Image courtesy of: Wikipedia

The following two tabs change content below.
  • Bio
  • Latest Posts

Matthew Slotkin

Matthew Slotkin has graduated from Rice University with a degree in History and English. He worked as an assistant professor before joining The Mirror Daily as a full time writer.

Latest posts by Matthew Slotkin (see all)

  • Mongolian Pterosaur Fossils Likely Belonged to One of the Largest Flying Creatures in the World (Study) - November 2, 2017
  • Long-Lost Jackson’s Climbing Salamander Spotted in Guatemala After 40 Years - October 31, 2017
  • Former Challenger Astronaut Paul Weitz Dies Age 85 - October 26, 2017

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr

Filed Under: Tech & Science

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Articles

Albert Einstein in group photo

Einstein’s Travel Diaries Reveal His Lesser Known Racist Side

June 14, 2018 By John Birks

Baobab tree in Tanzania

Southern Africa’s Iconic Baobab Trees Facing Massive Die-Off

June 11, 2018 By John Birks

UFO 'Self Parking' Sign

Researcher Accuses NASA of Massive Alien Cover-Up

March 5, 2018 By John Birks

Elon Musk's flying Tesla roadster

NASA Warns Elon Musk’s Flying Tesla Roadster May Contaminate Mars

February 28, 2018 By John Birks

Windows 10 home screen

Microsoft Working on Making Windows Password-Free

February 12, 2018 By John Birks

Ice Cubes

Scientists Discover Fourth State of Water: Superionic Ice

February 10, 2018 By John Birks

Head of a northern gannet

Forever Alone Nigel the Gannet Found Dead near Fake Partner

February 3, 2018 By John Birks

Globular Star Cluster

Scientists Find Surprise Black Hole in Globular Star Cluster

January 20, 2018 By John Birks

The Amazon Echo Dot

America’s Smart Speaker Market Jumps to 39 Million Users

January 15, 2018 By John Birks

Pink plasma ball

CES 2018: Intel Presents Out-of-This-World Quantum Computer

January 10, 2018 By John Birks

Teen using her iPad

Major Apple Investors Urge Company to Do More About iPhone Addiction

January 8, 2018 By John Birks

Russian spacecraft

Out-of-Control Chinese Space Station Hurling Toward Earth

January 5, 2018 By John Birks

wanning moon seen on the evening sky in between trees

Scientists Thrilled about Trump’s Initiative to Send Explorers Back to the Moon

December 31, 2017 By John Birks

Two iPhone 7 models on table

Apple Confirms Slower-iPhone Conspiracy Theory

December 22, 2017 By John Birks

Related Articles

  • Albert Einstein in group photo

    Einstein’s Travel Diaries Reveal His Lesser Known Racist Side

    Jun 14, 2018
  • Baobab tree in Tanzania

    Southern Africa’s Iconic Baobab Trees Facing Massive Die-Off

    Jun 11, 2018
  • UFO 'Self Parking' Sign

    Researcher Accuses NASA of Massive Alien Cover-Up

    Mar 5, 2018
  • Elon Musk's flying Tesla roadster

    NASA Warns Elon Musk’s Flying Tesla Roadster May Contaminate Mars

    Feb 28, 2018
  • Windows 10 home screen

    Microsoft Working on Making Windows Password-Free

    Feb 12, 2018
  • Ice Cubes

    Scientists Discover Fourth State of Water: Superionic Ice

    Feb 10, 2018
  • Head of a northern gannet

    Forever Alone Nigel the Gannet Found Dead near Fake Partner

    Feb 3, 2018
  • Globular Star Cluster

    Scientists Find Surprise Black Hole in Globular Star Cluster

    Jan 20, 2018
  • The Amazon Echo Dot

    America’s Smart Speaker Market Jumps to 39 Million Users

    Jan 15, 2018
  • Pink plasma ball

    CES 2018: Intel Presents Out-of-This-World Quantum Computer

    Jan 10, 2018

Categories

  • Business & Economy
  • Capital & Retail Sector
  • Health
  • IT & Diversified Sector
  • National & Global News
  • Tech & Science

Copyright © 2021 MirrorDaily.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Contact

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more.