VOA科学技术2024--Cuban Scientist Experiments with Asian Silkworms

A scientist in Cuba is raising silkworms native to Asia in hopes the creatures will produce local, high quality silk for clothing.

Dayron Martin is a biochemist who lives in western Cuba. He carries out experiments at the Indio Hatuey Experimental Station. The research center was established in 1962 in an effort to improve agriculture production methods in the Caribbean nation.

A reporter from Reuters news agency recently visited Martin's laboratory. As he looked over a table of many silkworms, he explained that he oversees¹ the whole lab operation from start to finish. This includes raising the silkworms, also known as caterpillars³, producing their food and harvesting their silk.

As part of his work, Martin heads the ArteSeda project. He told Reuters the project has progressed well so far. The goal is for Martin to harvest high-quality white fibers⁵ that can be used by the local population to make clothing and possibly other products.

Martin described his work as a Chinese "ancestral process" that has been practiced for more than 5,000 years. He said it was only recently brought to Cuba.

Martin said he does not have to go far to get materials for the caterpillars' food - he mainly uses dark green mulberry leaves from plants growing outside his lab. "(The worms) need very specific conditions," he added.

The project began with financial support from the European Union and the Cuban government. It more recently also received money from the French government. The effort aims to teach artisans the process so they can learn to raise worms on their own.

Cuba was chosen because of its climate. The country has warm temperatures and a lot of wind. In addition, its growing season lasts the full year.

Silkworms are the young form of a kind of moth⁶ native to Asia. The caterpillars produce a cocoon⁷ of silk fiber⁴ that has long been used to manufacture many kinds of products.

The artisans can use silk to create products at home to sell to local people and visitors, said Dalgi Chaviano. She owns a small shop in Havana that produces beauty products, fabrics⁹ and other materials.

Chaviano told Reuters she recently got approval from the local government to raise mulberry trees and silkworms in Havana. This will permit her to produce her own material for products.

"Every day I discover something new to do with the silk," Chaviano said.

Words in This Story

fiber - n. one of the thin threads that forms a substance such as cloth

artisan - n. someone who does skilled work with their hands

moth -n. a winged insect that, in its early development, is a wingless caterpillar²

cocoon - n. a cover that protects some insects as they develop into adults

fabric⁸ - n. cloth material

1 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

2 caterpillar   

n.毛虫，蝴蝶的幼虫

参考例句：

• A butterfly is produced by metamorphosis from a caterpillar.蝴蝶是由毛虫脱胎变成的。
• A caterpillar must pass through the cocoon stage to become a butterfly.毛毛虫必须经过茧的阶段才能变成蝴蝶。

3 caterpillars   

n.毛虫( caterpillar的名词复数 )；履带

参考例句：

• Caterpillars eat the young leaves of this plant. 毛毛虫吃这种植物的嫩叶。
• Caterpillars change into butterflies or moths. 毛虫能变成蝴蝶或蛾子。 来自辞典例句

4 fiber   

n.纤维，纤维质

参考例句：

• The basic structural unit of yarn is the fiber.纤维是纱的基本结构单元。
• The material must be free of fiber clumps.这种材料必须无纤维块。

5 fibers   

光纤( fiber的名词复数 )； （织物的）质地； 纤维，纤维物质

参考例句：

• Thesolution of collagen-PVA was wet spined with the sodium sulfate as coagulant and collagen-PVA composite fibers were prepared. 在此基础上，以硫酸钠为凝固剂，对胶原-PVA共混溶液进行湿法纺丝，制备了胶原-PVA复合纤维。
• Sympathetic fibers are distributed to all regions of the heart. 交感神经纤维分布于心脏的所有部分。

6 moth   

n.蛾，蛀虫

参考例句：

• A moth was fluttering round the lamp.有一只蛾子扑打着翅膀绕着灯飞。
• The sweater is moth-eaten.毛衣让蛀虫咬坏了。

7 cocoon   

n.茧

参考例句：

• A cocoon is a kind of silk covering made by an insect.蚕茧是由昆虫制造的一种由丝组成的外包层。
• The beautiful butterfly emerged from the cocoon.美丽的蝴蝶自茧中出现。

8 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

9 fabrics   

织物( fabric的名词复数 )； 布； 构造； （建筑物的）结构（如墙、地面、屋顶）：质地

参考例句：

• cotton fabrics and synthetics 棉织物与合成织物
• The fabrics are merchandised through a network of dealers. 通过经销网点销售纺织品。