Larvae of the silk moth tend to live longer lives if they have higher levels of an enzyme known as NAD+.

When scientists want to study aging and how to slow it down, they often turn to microscopic worms or lab mice among other models. The former are too different from humans, while the latter are ...

For the first time, scientists have successfully produced full-length spider silk fibers using genetically modified silkworms. With high strength and toughness, this silk has the potential to provide ...

It already exists in the natural world. Now, thanks to breakthroughs in genetic engineering, scientists have created ...

Cuban biochemist Dayron Martin proudly observes his table full of squiggling silkworms. These silkworms, originally from Asia but thriving in Cuba, are spinning fine, white silk. Martin hopes this ...

Mussels and silkworms may soon be indirectly responsible for saving people's lives. Scientists have used proteins from both animals to develop an internal wound dressing that stops bleeding and ...

Eleanor has an undergraduate degree in zoology from the University of Reading and a master’s in wildlife documentary production from the University of Salford. Eleanor has an undergraduate degree in ...

Stephen has degrees in science (Physics major) and arts (English Literature and the History and Philosophy of Science), as well as a Graduate Diploma in Science Communication. Stephen has degrees in ...

Did you know that silk fabric is made from ... well, worm spit? The way that silkworms wind their cocoons from fibers in their slimy saliva is now helping scientists more easily make new biomedical ...

The effect of using graphene, as well as carbon nanotubes, has been tested out in studies to show the tensile strength of the produced silk. The silkworm is the larva or caterpillar of the ...