Of Rice and Hen: Fashions from the Farm

Suits and dresses could one day be made out of chicken feathers. Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are developing a technique that could transform the feathers, which are normally agricultural waste products, into conventional-looking fabrics that resemble wool. The new fabrics could help reduce the use of petroleum-based synthetic fabrics, the scientists say. (Photo courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service)