Scientists make self-repairing clothes
Humans learn a lot from nature that helps us every day. The latest thing is self-repairing clothing. Scientists have made cotton, linen and wool clothes that can repair themselves, without the need for sewing. Scientists in the USA looked at how squid stick to things so well. They found a sticky protein on the suckers of squid. The protein is like the one found in the silk that spiders use to make spider webs. It is very strong and stretchy. The new protein will be put on clothes. A rip or tear will join together in less than a minute after it is dipped in water. Soldiers and other people will be safer with clothes that repair quickly and easily. A scientist said: "The coatings are thin, less than a micron, so they wouldn't be noticed in everyday wear." He added: "Even thin, they increase the overall strength of the material. For the first time, we are making self-healing textiles." |