Spider Webs: Fascinating Facts and Wonders of Nature's Art
Spider webs are not only beautiful and intricate pieces of nature's art, but they possess some truly amazing and lesser-known capabilities. Here, we explore several fascinating facts about spider webs, from their ability to withstand zero gravity to their unique properties used in various applications.
Amazing Spider Webs in Zero Gravity
The planet's most resilient creatures, spiders, can indeed build webs in zero gravity! NASA's Skylab mission in 1973 sent eight-legged guests—spiders—into space. Despite the myth that one of the spiders was a second-in-command or a researcher, these arachnids were merely observing their environment.
Broadcasting their journey, NASA documented that these spiders took time to acclimatize to their weightless surroundings. However, they managed to build webs! The projects were not identical to those built on Earth due to variations in the thickness of the strands. This discovery has verified that spiders are indeed capable of adapting to harsh and unusual environments.
Spider Silk's Medical Potential
Silk from spider webs holds medical promise. According to studies, spider silk can serve as a clotting agent for bleeding wounds. Furthermore, the strands of a black widow spider (and other spiders) are notably stronger than those of other spiders. During WWII, some of these strong strands were even used in the production of Norden bomb sights.
Spider Hearing and Sensory Adaptation
Interestingly, spiders hear with their legs and not ears. If a loud noise is made near a spider, it will run away as a response. However, if one carefully removes its legs, the spider will continue to sit quietly despite the noise. Caution: Avoid performing such experiments to ensure the spider's safety.
The Darwins Bark Spider and Its Super Strong Webs
A newly identified species of spider, Darwins bark spider, offers even more remarkable insight. Found on the island of Madagascar, this giant spider constructs webs up to 82 feet wide. This species uses two types of silk: dragline silk, which creates the supporting strands of the orb web, and stretchy, sticky silk, which catches prey.
The web's stretching and sticky qualities allow spiders to detect vibrations when an insect flies into the web and becomes trapped. Once the prey is caught, the spider envelops it in a silk cocoon. These webs are made of the world's strongest known biological material. Scientists from the University of Puerto Rico's zoology department, led by Ingi Agnarsson, noted that juvenile males weave spider webs but abandon this behavior upon adulthood to focus on mating.
The strength and flexibility of Darwins bark spider silk are unparalleled, making it a subject of extensive study. Researchers are hopeful that studying this species will help them understand more about the properties of spider silk and its potential applications.
Conclusion: Spider webs are more than simple constructions; they are multifaceted marvels of nature. From their ability to adapt in zero gravity to their unique medical and industrial applications, these webs continue to amaze and inspire researchers and scientists alike.
Keywords: spider web, zero gravity spider web, strong spider silk