Understanding how the stretching process strengthens spider silk is a key part of helping design stronger, biodegradable, silk-inspired materials for various applications. When spiders spin their webs ...

In a new study, Northwestern University researchers have discovered why the role of stretching is so important. By simulating ...

Nephila clavata, a golden orb weaver. — Image by Kinori via Wikimedia / Public Domain Nephila clavata, a golden orb weaver. — Image by Kinori via Wikimedia / Public Domain A new study finds the amount ...

Spider silk is one of the most fascinating natural materials known to humans. It is more flexible than rubber yet tougher than bulletproof Kevlar and five times stronger than steel on a weight per ...

When they weave their webs, spiders pull their silk threads. New simulations show stretching during spinning causes the protein chains within the fibers to align and the number of hydrogen bonds ...

Scanning electron microscopy images of fibers from engineered spider silk. To validate their computational findings, the Northwestern team used spectroscopy techniques to examine how the protein ...

When spiders spin their webs, they use their hind legs to pull silk threads from their spinnerets. This pulling action doesn’t just help the spider release the silk, it’s also a crucial step in ...