Spraying Spiders for Stronger Silk

May-11-15 Researchers have discovered that spraying spiders with a nanotube solution will drastically increase the strength of their webs.

The discovery spun of out an ongoing experiment to enhance spider silk by spraying or feeding the arachnids different materials meant to improve different properties of the silk. In this case, the team decided to spray the spiders with either a graphene or nanotube solution.

Of the fifteen spiders collected, four died and several other spun substandard webs. The spiders that thrived, however, created webs that were much stronger than their normal silk—up to 3.5 times stronger than the toughest spider silk known. The team is now investigating how the nanotube properties became infused in the silk, and what potential applications the new super silk could have.

More Info about this Invention:

[PHYS.ORG]
[WIRED.COM]

---