All posts tagged: Silk

Intricate loops of silk help net-casting spiders trap prey in webs

Published by skeptic

core: Something — usually round-shaped — in the center of an object. fiber: Something whose shape resembles a thread or filament. gland: A cell, a group of cells or an organ that produces and discharges a substance (or “secretion”) for use elsewhere in the body or in a body cavity, or for elimination from the body. insect: A type of arthropod that as an adult will have six segmented legs and three body parts: a head, thorax and abdomen. There are hundreds of thousands of insects, which include bees, beetles, flies and moths. microscope: An instrument used to view objects — such as bacteria or the single cells of plants or animals — that are too small to be visible to the unaided eye. prey: (n.) An organism hunted by another, often for food. (v.) To attack and eat another organism. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: A prestigious journal publishing original scientific research, begun in 1914. The journal’s content spans the biological, physical and social sciences. Each of the more than 3,000 papers …

The best silk pillowcases for healthy skin and hair

Published by Sam Flores

Always check the fabric composition of a silk pillowcase before you buy. Cheap “silk” pillowcases tend to be made from 100 per cent polyester, mimicking its feel through a satin weave. These may appear shiny but they lack silk’s natural properties, resulting in a fabric that feels hot, uncomfortable and slightly staticky. For moisture retention, temperature regulation and hair cuticle protection, you need real mulberry silk. Or if you want a vegan alternative, look for pillowcases derived from natural fabrics, such as eucalyptus. Still, Vowler says to be realistic about the results you expect: “They can’t undo breakage, but they can protect your hair from tangles and future breakage.” Next, consider momme count, the silk equivalent of a thread count. Higher counts feel softer and are more durable. Vowler says to look for between 19 and 22. Silk quality is also graded, with 6A being the finest available. Many brands don’t list this but where possible, we have listed this below. Finally, silk pillowcases have more slip than standard cotton bedding. If you move a …

The Ingenious Engineering of Silk: How the 2,000-Year-Old Pattern Loom Powered the Silk Road and the Wealth of Ancient China

Published by José Betancourt

The Silk Road’s long period of high activity spanned the second century BC and the fifteenth century AD, but its name wasn’t coined until more than 400 years after that. Scholars have argued it practically ever since, given that the referent wasn’t just one road but a vast and ever-changing network of them, and that silk was hardly the only commodity carried by its traders. Yet the name persists, and not only due to Marco Polo-type romanticism. Silk may not have been the highest-volume item on its eponymous road — more business was surely done in everyday textiles, to say nothing of spices, grains, or dyes — but it was perhaps the most visible, and surely the most glamorous. From the perspective of Chinese civilization, it can also look like the most important. In the new Primal Space video above, you can hear the story of “the machine that made China rich”: the pattern loom, that is, a model of which was unearthed in 2017 during subway construction in the city of Chengdu. At somewhere between 2,100 and 2,200 …

Silk & Snow Bed Frame Review 2026: One Year Later

Published by Jenni Sidey

Back in college, I purchased a utilitarian black metal bed frame and memory foam mattress from Wayfair. It was a solid bed: It served its purpose and followed me from apartment to apartment for (probably too many) years. Unfortunately, the black metal didn’t mesh with the midcentury modern vibe I was aiming for with the rest of my current apartment. So, I needed a change. Luckily, I came across Silk & Snow. Their Platform bed uses Japanese wooden joinery similar to the popular Thuma frame—but for literally half the price. They also offer a series of mattresses to compliment the frame. Here’s my Silk & Snow bed frame review, along with my take on the mattress, the assembly process, and whether it’s the right choice for anyone looking to upgrade their sleep situation. Silk & Snow Wooden Bed Frame with Headboard Silk & Snow The S&S Mattress Heavy-duty design, heavier-duty boxes I opted for the Platform bed with a wooden upholstered headboard and the S&S Memory Foam Mattress, both in size full. It arrived in …

Justin Bieber Wore Silk Boxers and Socks to Perform at the 2026 Grammys

Published by Jenni Sidey

For the first time since 2022, Justin Bieber hit the Grammys stage on Sunday evening to perform “Yukon,” the come-hither second single off of his seventh studio album, Swag. It was a stripped-down performance in more ways than one: Bieber—shirtless but for a pair of pale blue silk boxers and black socks from his own brand, Skylrk, and a purple electric guitar strapped around his torso, which he strummed sparingly—sang the sparse track under a lone spotlight. The song, which was nominated for best R&B performance tonight (but lost to Kehlani’s hit “Folded” during a pre-broadcast segment), marked a return to public live performance for the Biebs, whose full-scale comeback will take place in April when he headlines Coachella. (Swag is also nominated for several other top-tier awards tonight, including album of the year.) Kevin Winter/Getty Images Prior to Swag’s critically acclaimed drop last year, the musician was focused on launching Skylrk, his sophomore clothing brand, whose primary offerings include candy-hued sweats, sunglasses, and slide sandals. In January, the brand introduced underwear, for which this …

Justin Bieber Performs in Silk Boxers and Socks at the Grammys 2026

Published by Sam Flores

On Sunday, Justin Bieber ascended the Grammys 2026 stage, marking his return to the awards show for the first time in four years. He wore a pair of silk underpants and socks for his stripped-down performance of “Yukon,” during which his wife Hailey Bieber looked on adoringly. During the performance, the camera caught her tapping her fingers in the universal sign for, as TikTok would say, “clock it.” The last time the Canadian musician attended the annual ceremony was 2022, when he took the stage to perform an acoustic version of “Peaches” alongside Daniel Caesar and Giveon. This year, his album Swag garnered nominations for album of the year and best pop vocal album. He’s also up for best R&B performance for “Yukon” and best pop solo performance for “Daisies.” Justin Bieber channels Tom Cruise in Risky Business with his intimate Grammys 2026 performance.Kevin Winter/Getty Images Bieber walked the red carpet alongside Hailey, who last accompanied her husband to the awards show in 2022. The couple dressed in matching black, silver jewelry, and “ICE OUT” …

I Have the Worst Bedhead. Here’s What Happened When I Switched My Cotton Pillowcase to Silk

Published by skeptic

After bleaching my hair white a few years ago, it’s unsurprising that it has never been the same. This is especially the case in the morning, when I wake up with aggressive bedhead that requires several minutes of brushing, leaving my 2A/2B waves and curls frizzy and prone to breakage. While researching ways to tame my bedhead and improve the health of my hair, I kept coming across advice that suggested I switch from a cotton pillowcase to a silk one. Curious to see if this simple swap would actually work, I tried Cozy Earth’s 100% mulberry silk pillowcase (which the brand kindly sent me). These were the results. My hair before the silk pillowcase I’ve been using 100% cotton pillowcases for the past few years. While I wouldn’t say they’ve provided the most luxurious experience, they get the job done. However, I wake up every day with tangled, frizzy hair and fabric lines on my face. This is compounded by the fact that I’m a hot sleeper, which adds to the chaos — especially …

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