Silk is a natural protein fibre produced by caterpillars of certain moths that can be woven into fabrics. Most silk used for clothing comes from silkworms or moth caterpillars, the larvae of which produce silk to form cocoons. Many other types of insects, including spiders, also produce silk. Silk produced by silkworms is not as strong as spider silk, which is even stronger than steel. But now scientists have found a way to make silkworms produce stronger silk by feeding them carbon nanotubes and graphene (Nano Letters, 13 September 2016 | DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b03597).
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