Scientists have cracked a key mystery behind spider silk’s legendary strength and flexibility. They discovered that tiny molecular interactions act like natural glue, holding silk proteins together as they transform from liquid into incredibly tough fibers. This same process helps create silk that’s stronger than steel by weight and tougher than Kevlar.
I’ve always found spiders fascinating. Such little creatures are able to produce material that’s stronger than steel, eating over 2000 insects a year keeping pests under control, and overall just being good for the environment. The world would be a lot worse without those little critters, I’m glad we have them on our planet.