How Can You Get Spiders High?
WouterMany people believe that a spider’s bite will cause bad weather, a broken back, and even catastrophe. While a spider’s bite does not seem like the kind of thing to fear, arachnophobia can be a real problem.
Fortunately, there are ways to make spiders more comfortable. One way is to squirt peppermint oil in the corners of a room. Another is to spray cotton balls near doorways and other entrances. You can also buy a non-lethal soft bristle trap to catch them from a distance.
Several years ago, scientists hoped to find ways to use spiders in testing the toxicity of chemicals. They thought that the animals could be a great replacement for humans and other animals in the lab. To determine how drugs affect spiders, NASA injected the animals with chemicals.
Researchers compared drug webs with normal webs. They found that spiders on drugs were more likely to give up on their webs. They did not weave the webs with the same precision and attention to detail. The webs were chaotic and sloppy, and often had large gaps.
The team then analyzed spider webs using modern tools. They used photos and measurements to compare the changes that the drugs made.
The researchers discovered that drugs affected how frequently spiders built spirals. They also altered how much dexterity the spiders had.
When the spiders were given marijuana, they were more likely to sidetrack while building their webs. They also made smaller, less-orderly webs.
