Silkworms genetically engineered to produce pure spider silk

Spider silk fibres produced by silkworms Junpeng Mi, Donghua University Silkworms have been genetically engineered with CRISPR to produce pure spider silk for the first time. The worms could offer a scalable way to create things like surgical thread or bulletproof vests from spider silk, which is prized for its strength, flexibility and lightness. Spider …

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Recycled coffee grounds can be used to make stronger concrete

Finding applications for used coffee grounds could prevent them emitting methane in landfills TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images Concrete can be made 29 per cent stronger by incorporating recycled coffee grounds. An estimated 18 million tonnes of spent coffee grounds are produced globally each year, with most ending up in landfill. Their decomposition in landfill …

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Windows filled with see-through wood layer help hold in heat

Infrared image of a building Ivan Smalyukh A see-through aerogel made from wood could replace air in double-glazed windows and make them as insulating as walls. Windows with air sandwiched in the gap between plates of glass can be made better insulators by either increasing the number of glass panels, which can affect visual quality, …

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Glass device can tell objects apart without needing a computer

A device that uses a piece of glass with little bumps on it can distinguish objects based on how they scatter light, removing the need for a camera or a computer Technology 4 November 2022 By Karmela Padavic-Callaghan The device identifies objects based on how they scatter near-infrared light Getty Images/Stone RF/stilllifephotographer A piece of …

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