How Are Spiders So Strong?
WouterSpiders are surprisingly strong. According to some scientists, jumping spiders can lift up to 170 times their own weight. In addition, they can carry a weight of up to 173 times their own. However, not all spiders can achieve this feat.
In fact, some spiders produce the strongest silk imaginable. One example is Darwin’s Bark spider silk. This material is five times stronger than steel wires of similar thickness. And it’s also flexible and elastic.
Similarly, scientists have studied the structure of spider webs. They have discovered that a spider can create an intricate design that makes the web tough. They also found that the threads that make up the web are nonlinear, meaning that the web has a characteristic way of softening and stiffening as the force is applied. This is important for proper function.
This research could help scientists develop more damage-resistant synthetic materials. It also may provide design principles for networked systems. And it could be used in advanced products such as bike helmets.
The spider catches its prey using thousands of smaller strands that stick together. The web itself is a complex design that allows the spider to catch bigger and heavier animals. The strands are attached with anchor lines. They are also made of sticky silk. And they are strong enough to snag a jetliner.
But how exactly does spiders become so strong? This is a question that researchers have pondered for many years. And in the past decade, they’ve finally made a breakthrough. They’ve discovered how spiders use their hairs to exploit the van der Waals forces.
