Summary:
- Researchers have discovered that the golden fabric produced by a type of clam, known as the pen shell, is made from waste materials in the clam's body.
- The pen shell uses a protein-based material called byssus to attach itself to rocks and other surfaces. This byssus material can be harvested and spun into a golden, silk-like fabric.
- The discovery of this natural, sustainable fabric could lead to the development of new eco-friendly textiles that mimic the properties of the pen shell's byssus.