Spider Silk

spiders · materials · nature's engineering

Sticky trap maker. Spiders spin silk into webs that work like adhesive traps to catch flying insects. The silk is sticky in exactly the right way to hold prey without letting it escape.

Different for different jobs. Spiders change the thickness and stickiness of their silk depending on what they're making it for. Silk for catching food is different from silk for building nests or protecting eggs.

Escape rope and parachute. Spiders use silk like a rope to hang from high places and even as a parachute to float away from danger. Some young spiders can use silk to catch the wind and sail through the air.

Super strong protein. Spider silk is made of protein and is incredibly strong for how thin it is. Scientists study it because it's tougher than many materials we use in real life.

Tiny information highway. Spiders use silk strands to feel vibrations and sense when something lands in their web. The silk transmits touch information directly to the spider so it knows when prey has arrived.