Silk is one of the most luxurious fabrics for clothing and bedding. Unlike cotton or linen, silk is made most commonly by insects—often the Bombyx mori, a domesticated moth that feeds on the leaves of mulberry trees. Humans have a <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/history-of-silk-and-humans/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">4,000-year history with the textile</a> and the creatures that make it, as documented in the new book Silk: A World History.Since silk has an unconventional origin as a secretion rather than a plant product, it has unique biological qualities that make it strong and enduring. And because it’s a natural protein fiber, it’s biodegradable, so scientists think it could have a future as a <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/history-of-silk-and-humans/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">sustainable alternative to plastics</a> and electronic parts.Guest host Arielle Duhaime-Ross speaks with Dr. Aarathi Prasad, biologist and author of Silk: A World History. They discuss the ways humans have changed silk-creating creatures through domestication, future applications of the textile, and Prasad’s experience growing silkworms of her own.<a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/history-of-silk-and-humans/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">Read an excerpt from Silk: A World History at sciencefriday.com.</a>Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/april-26-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">sciencefriday.com</a>.
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The 4,000-Year History of Humans and Silk

Science Friday