This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Monday 6 September 2021
Spider Silk Garments?
Female Golden orb web spiders produce copious amounts of yellow silk. A team of 80 men and women were tasked with collecting two million spiders from the highlands of Madagascar. The silk produced by the individually-housed spiders, was then harvested over 8 years (https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/sep/06/eight-years-and-2m-arachnids-later-spider-silk-fabrics-go-on-show-in-london). Although the silk obtained was very attractive, there was only sufficient to produce four garments. Three of these, two shawls and a lamba (a traditional Madagascan garment), are on show in London. There is quite a way to go, before this could be deemed a cost-effective way of producing new textiles.
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What's In a Critter's Name? 11. Comma butterfly
The Comma butterfly ( Polygonia c-album) gets its name from the punctuation-like mark, on the underside of its wings.
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The UK government continue their quest to turn England's rivers back into sewers. They first facilitated the privatised water companies...
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Garden plants in France, The Netherlands, The UK and Sikkim (NE India).
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