Scientists in China have synthesized spider silk from genetically modified silkworms, producing fibers six times tougher than the Kevlar used in bulletproof vests. The study, published September 20 in the journal Matter, is the first to successfully produce full-length spider silk proteins using silkworms. The findings demonstrate a technique that could be used to manufacture an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic commercial fibers such as nylon.
I couldn’t seem to find it in the article, but I hope it wasn’t like I previously saw: silkworms being boiled alive en masse
High-strength and ultra-tough whole spider silk fibers spun from transgenic silkworms
The worms still get killed though not en masse… yet.