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What Makes Spider Webs Tough As Steel

Posted by samzenpus on from the it's-all-how-you-spin-it dept.

sciencehabit writes "A new analysis reveals the intricacies of spider web design, showing how the unique properties of its silk turn webs into flexible yet strong traps. Computer simulations reveal that heavy forces spread over the entire net rather than stay local. Real spider silk can be either stretchy or stiff at different times, which produces threads that flex and then snap in just the right way to avoid wrecking nearby spokes."

4 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. Spiders have always fascinated me by Tastecicles · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I've lost count of the number of times I've sat there and just watched a spider start building a web at 4am, finishing at around 10, and just marvelling at the insane complexity and beauty of the thing.

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    Operation Guillotine is in effect.
    1. Re:Spiders have always fascinated me by DigiShaman · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I was driving home on a major interstate at 4am when a fat-n-juicy spider decided to repel down my rear view mirror. Freaked me the hell out! Jerking the steering wheel only made matters worse when it caused the spider to sway back and fourth. I eventually lost track of it and was nervous driving the rest of the way home. Never can tell when or where it will make its next grand apperience.

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      Life is not for the lazy.
    2. Re:Spiders have always fascinated me by jones_supa · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Spider using a feature of gate to build its web around

  2. Re:I for one by Securityemo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    You apparently can use spider silk for cloth if you really try hard enough. (Warning: NSF arachnophobes.)

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    Emotions! In your brain!