Sonic mysteries of spider silk open pathways to new synthetic materials

By Marcus Strom
Updated July 30 2016 - 10:18am, first published 9:46am
A spider web captured in an autumn early morning. Photo: Vanessa Burdett
A spider web captured in an autumn early morning. Photo: Vanessa Burdett
Scientists want to unlock how spider silk transmits phonons, quanta of sound that also have thermal properties.  Photo: Dirk Schneider
Scientists want to unlock how spider silk transmits phonons, quanta of sound that also have thermal properties. Photo: Dirk Schneider

Next time you sweep away a spiderweb, think of the millions of years of evolutionary engineering you are casually brushing aside.

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