Silkworms spin colored silks while on a 'green' dyed-leaf diet
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 - 12:00
in Biology & Nature
For some 5,000 years, cultivated silkworms have been spinning luxurious white silk fibers destined for use in the finest clothing. But current dyeing practices produce wastewater that contains potentially harmful toxins, so scientists are turning to a new, "greener" dyeing method in which they coax already-colored fibers from the caterpillars by feeding them dyed leaves.