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A metal ion bath may make fibers stronger than spider silk

But some say gently dissolving silkworm silk's coating may give the finished fiber its strength

photo of silkworm cocoons

Silkworm cocoons (pictured) can be a starting point for scientists trying to create super strong artificial silk.

Abhilasha bora/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

By Meghan Rosen

- More than 2 years ago

Super strong artificial silk? That’s so metal.

Giving revamped silkworm silk a metallic bath may make the strands both strong and stiff, scientists report October 6 in Matter.