A device that partially mimics the process by which spiders produce fine, yet super-strong, silks has been built.The design could allow a new generation of tough, lightweight materials for use in medical equipment, for example.
A simple method for manufacturing strands of artificial gossamer has long been coveted as - weight for weight - it is five times stronger than steel.
Writing in the journal PNAS, the German team says their work sheds light on how spiders produce their unique materials.
"We can observe the initial steps of fibre formation, which was not possible before," explained Sebastian Rammensee of the Technical University of Munich and one of the authors of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science's paper.
"Now we can better understand how the processing conditions affect the quality of the silk."
Despite years of research, scientists have been unable to produce useful quantities of artificial spider silk.
Large puzzle
Spiders make their silk naturally as water-soluble proteins which are secreted from cells.
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