Engineers from Washington University in St. Louis have developed a polymeric amyloid fiber generated from engineered bacteria. The yielded fiber is stronger than the natural spider silk.
Silk, despite its fine fibers, is known as fairly durable material. Combining the natural substance with synthetic components, new composite material can be used for biomedical implants.
Three Bolivian brothers help each other get bitten by a black widow to mimic their favorite superhero, Spiderman. Scientists reveal just how much of the comics are real.
The study on the genetic structure of spider silk could help in the field of materials science. Biologist and curator, professor, and Director of Comparative Biology Research at the American Museum of Natural History Cheryl Hayashi has dedicated her hours to creating a "silk library" in her laboratory at the museum.