Open the Spigot for Science
#ScienceSunday would love to ensnare you in our web. I saw this electron microscope pic shared from Linda Hedrick and I remembered that there has been a lot of research to mimic spider web silk. The pictures below are the spigots of the spider where the silk is made/dispensed for making a web. The first is a false-color version from Visuals Unlimited (http://goo.gl/2Qgui).
From MicroAngela
These fingerlike spinnerets on spiders’ posterior abdomens (rear-ends) are used to extrude web silk. This silk is used to weave webs, snares, shelters, and/or egg sacs. Each species of spider has a distinctive web form. Spider silk is a fibrous protein that is secreted as a fluid and which, when stretched, forms a polymer that is stronger than steel! A spider can spin more than one kind of silk to customize its web. For example, the spider makes some parts of its web not sticky so that it can run across it and not get caught! Some spiders do not weave webs at all, but actively hunt for food.
A tidy, clean web indicates a spider is present. A dusty web (cobweb) usually means it is old and unused. Spiders are useful in keeping down pest insect populations. Have you made friends with a spider, lately?
This picture was taken by a fourth grade class visiting my lab. It is magnified about 1,500 times
http://www5.pbrc.hawaii.edu/microangela/spigot.htm
The same image can be found at How Stuff Works, with ton of info: http://goo.gl/d0Pr0
Some folks at Rochester detailed their SEM study on spider silk on this webpage:
Here’s a clever use of spider silk. Dip the silk in organic silicate, then bake it so that the silk burns away leaving a small, hollow fiber optic wire.
Finally, here’s artificial spider silk from bacteria
I leave you with No Doubt
You think that we connect
That the chemistry’s correct
Your words walk right through my ears
Presuming I like what I hear
And now I’m stuck in the web
You’re spinning
You’ve got me for your prey
ScienceSunday curated by Allison Sekuler Rajini Rao Robby Bowles and me.
Edit also for #SpiderSunday curated by Kimberly Hosey and Chris Mallory
September 9, 2012
Absolutely beautiful to view Chad Haney!
September 9, 2012
Thanks Mary Owens
September 9, 2012
love it!
September 9, 2012
Sadly, even the work that spiders used to do is being outsourced:
“The Future of Biomaterial Manufacturing: Spider Silk Production from Bacteria”
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120718122826.htm
September 9, 2012
Gaythia Weis that’s already in one of the many links above. I found so much cool spider web/silk info, I kind of went overboard with the links.
September 9, 2012
Oops! I’ve been scooped!
September 9, 2012
Haha, you’re not alone Gaythia Weis , I’ve been “scooped” too..I’ve had the spinneret image on my desktop long enough now, although my post was to be on spider silk protein (and the repeats). We “G+niuses” have a hard time keeping up, don’t we 😉 This reminds me, I did get notified of your post and just have not had time to get to it yet.
Great post, Chad Haney . I don’t think it will scare Mary Owens .
September 9, 2012
Personally, I think that there is plenty of room for more than one post on each topic, and I would love to read your “spin” on spiders, Rajini Rao .
September 9, 2012
My posts today are among my more politicized. Which undoubtedly makes them controversial. Which is a conundrum. Because what I am saying is that if the Stanford researchers had managed to get their study publicized in a less controversy directed way, then their work wouldn’t drive divisive politicization of the issues involved.
Spiders are basically apolitical, I would think. Bees, on the other hand….
September 9, 2012
Will look for your post when I get home, Gaythia Weis
September 9, 2012
It didn’t ‘t scare me Rajini Rao :-). And I am appreciative of the insect control…I just hate them in the house! :-).
September 9, 2012
Very interesting post Chad Haney. I was doing a bit of research for an article and stumbled on spider silk. I really am not sure yet how apolitical spiders are after this one is more widely known The Goats with Spider Genes and Silk in their Milk – Horizon: Playing God – BBC Two Apparently researchers are also attempting to use this silk for medicated sutures.
September 9, 2012
This belongs in #spidersunday as well.
September 9, 2012
Thanks for the info Cheryl Ann MacDonald
Haley Nelson is that curated by Kimberly Hosey and Chris Mallory ?
September 10, 2012
Yep it is 🙂 And these are pretty incredible.
September 10, 2012
Edited with #SpiderSunday hashtag.