Illinois Featured Content

  • A red dye laboriously made from bugs moves to the lab

    Mar 29, 2022 10:00 am by Knowable MagazineIllinois in the News
    Cochineal bugs are covered in white wax while infesting cacti, but a hard pinch will reveal the carminic acid that’s abundant in their bodies. CREDIT: PASCOPIX / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

    Images

    • Cochineal bugs are covered in white wax while infesting cacti, but a hard pinch will reveal the carminic acid that’s abundant in their bodies. CREDIT: PASCOPIX / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

    Knowable Magazine (March 29) 'In addition to making the carminic acid, we will be able to make a bit of change as well. We could do better colors and maybe better biological activity,' says U of I microbial engineer Yong-Su Jin.