News tagged with spider silk

Scientists breed goats that produce spider silk

(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers from the University of Wyoming have developed a way to incorporate spiders' silk-spinning genes into goats, allowing the researchers to harvest the silk protein from the goats’ ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created May 31, 2010 | popularity 4.1 / 5 (60) | comments 37 | with audio podcast report

Giant spiders cast webs over river using super biomaterial

(PhysOrg.com) -- The antithesis of the itsy-bitsy spider, Caerostris darwini, a giant orb spider and namesake of Charles Darwin, weaves a web of super strength never before seen, says Dr. Todd Blackledge, Leucht ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Sep 17, 2010 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (37) | comments 18 | with audio podcast

New analysis of the structure of spider silks explains paradox of super-strength

Spiders and silkworms are masters of materials science, but scientists are finally catching up. Silks are among the toughest materials known, stronger and less brittle, pound for pound, than steel. Now scientists ...

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

created Mar 14, 2010 | popularity 5 / 5 (27) | comments 2 | with audio podcast

Scientists genetically engineer silkworms to produce artificial spider silk (w/ Video)

(PhysOrg.com) -- A research and development effort by the University of Notre Dame, the University of Wyoming, and Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. has succeeded in producing transgenic silkworms capable ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Sep 29, 2010 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (23) | comments 9 | with audio podcast

Spider silk conducts heat as well as metals, study finds

Xinwei Wang had a hunch that spider webs were worth a much closer look.

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Mar 05, 2012 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (25) | comments 10 | with audio podcast

Japan scientist makes violin strings from spider silk

A Japanese scientist said he has made violin strings out of spider silk and claims that -- in the right hands -- they produce a beautiful sound.

Chemistry / Polymers

created Mar 06, 2012 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (15) | comments 13

Silkworms spinning spider webs

(PhysOrg.com) -- A spiders silk is strong and more elastic and has a large range of possible medical applications. However, spiders have a history of being territorial and prone to cannibalism, so the idea ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Jan 03, 2012 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (15) | comments 4 | with audio podcast report

Scientists develop ultra-thin solar cells

Austrian and Japanese researchers on Wednesday unveiled solar cells thinner than a thread of spider silk that are flexible enough to be wrapped around a single human hair.

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Apr 04, 2012 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (13) | comments 5

Investigating how spiders spin their silk, researchers unravel a key step

Five times the tensile strength of steel and triple that of the currently best synthetic fibers: Spider silk is a fascinating material. But no one has thus far succeeded in producing the super fibers synthetically. ...

Chemistry / Analytical Chemistry

created May 12, 2010 | popularity 5 / 5 (11) | comments 3 | with audio podcast

Nanospheres made of aromatic amino acids: The most rigid organic nanostructures to date

(PhysOrg.com) -- Organic nanostructures are key elements of nanotechnology because these building blocks can be made with tailored chemical properties. Their disadvantage has been that their mechanical properties ...

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

created Sep 30, 2010 | popularity 5 / 5 (11) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

A spider web's strength lies in more than its silk

While researchers have long known of the incredible strength of spider silk, the robust nature of the tiny filaments cannot alone explain how webs survive multiple tears and winds that exceed hurricane strength.

Technology / Computer Sciences

created Feb 01, 2012 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (11) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Scientists untangle spider web stickiness

Ali Dhinojwala and Vasav Sahni consider themselves materials scientists, not biologists. They study surfaces, friction and adhesion. Nevertheless, they have discovered that understanding how nature makes things ...

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Dec 03, 2010 | popularity 3.3 / 5 (15) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Here's looking at dew: spiders snare water from the air

Fog-catching nets which provide precious water in rain-starved parts of the world may be poised for a high-tech upgrade thanks to the spider.

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

created Feb 03, 2010 | popularity 5 / 5 (9) | comments 2

Power thrust for spider silk

(PhysOrg.com) -- Spiderman would definitely have an easier time of things with this spider silk - for example, if he had to stop a getaway car moving off at 100 kilometres per hour. A five-millimetre-thick ...

Physics / Condensed Matter

created Apr 24, 2009 | popularity 4 / 5 (11) | comments 2

New partnership looks to industrialize spider silk production

(PhysOrg.com) -- For thousands of years, human beings have looked with envy upon the silk webs spun by spiders; not only are they stronger than steel but they are tougher too (a vest made of spider web material ...

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Sep 15, 2011 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (7) | comments 3 | with audio podcast report