Scientists grow living, rainbow-hued textiles using color-making bacteria

Scientists at KAIST developed a revolutionary textile production method using living bacteria that simultaneously grow fabric and dye it in rainbow colors. The process uses cellulose-producing bacteria alongside color-making microbes to create an eco-friendly alternative to polluting synthetic fibers and chemical dyes. Tests showed the bacterial textiles retained their vibrant hues better than synthetic alternatives, though commercialization faces scaling and cost challenges estimated to take five years.