Spiders

Scientists reveal how spiders make their silk

We're one step closer to cracking an engineering enigma.

by JoAnna Wendel
Close up macro shot of a European garden spider (cross spider, Araneus diadematus) sitting in a spid...
Shutterstock

Shutterstock

Scientists are one step closer to recreating spider silk — one of nature's most powerful engineering tools.

Shutterstock

Spider webs are made up of proteins called spidrons about 0.003 millimeters thick — 20 times thinner than a strand of human hair.

Tap
Space, Time, Dinosaurs, and Other Essential Topics
Get the best of science—space missions, black holes, futuristic biology—delivered daily, minus the jargon.
By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy