How Spiders Spin Silk - The Biology
Friday, August 8, 2014 - 19:31
in Physics & Chemistry
Spider silk is lightweight and stretchy yet has tensile strength greater than steel. Its chemistry is just as fascinating. Silk proteins, called spidroins, must convert from a soluble form to solid fibers at ambient temperatures, with water as a solvent, and at high speed. How do spiders achieve this astounding feat? A new paper discusses how the silk formation process is regulated. read more