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Turning worm spit into silk is surprisingly beautiful

by Joe Posner

To quote a report on silk published by the United States Government in 1868:

“Silk, by its characteristic qualities and unchangeableness, as well as by the richness and beauty of its appearance, is in relation to textile substances what gold is to metals.”

But one clear advantage it has over gold is that it is harvested worm spit. Here is the nearly 5000 year old process that supplies the world with its most prized threads.

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