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Mystery of how black widow spiders create steel-strength silk webs further unravelled: 'Modified micelle theory' may allow scientists to create equally strong synthetic materials
- October 23, 2018
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Researchers have better unraveled the complex process of how black widow spiders transform proteins into steel-strength fibers. This knowledge promises to aid scientists in creating equally strong synthetic materials. Utilizing state-of-the-art techniques, the research team was able to more closely see inside the protein gland where the silk fibers originate, revealing a more complex, hierarchical protein assembly. The researchers' 'modified micelles theory' concludes that spider silk proteins start out as complex, compound micelles.
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"Mystery of how black widow spiders create steel-strength silk webs further unravelled: 'Modified micelle theory' may allow scientists to create equally strong synthetic materials", MachPrinciple, October 23, 2018, https://machprinciple.com/post/Mystery-of-how-black-widow-spiders-create-steel-strength-silk-webs-further-unravelled-Modified-micelle-theory-may-allow-scientists-to-create-equally-strong-synthetic-materials
