When compared weight-for-weight, spider silk has a higher tensile strength than steel yet is almost as elastic as rubber. Leading manmade fibers such as nylon are less than half as tough.

This pulling action doesn’t just help the spider release the silk, it’s also a crucial step in strengthening the silk fibers for a more durable web. In a new study, Northwestern Engineering ...

it's also a crucial step in strengthening the silk fibers for a more durable web. In a new study, Northwestern University researchers have discovered why the role of stretching is so important.

The project was led by Dr. Xiaoli Zhang, the Company’s research manager, whose team continues to push the boundaries of genetic engineering for spider silk production.

Mulberry silk is a natural protein fiber collected from silkworm cocoons. The soft, smooth and glossy fabric is commonly known as the "queen of fibers" in China. It is widely used in high-end clothing ...

Stretching spider silk makes it stronger New study finds the amount of stretching determines the fibers' properties Date: March 7, 2025 Source: Northwestern University Summary: When they weave ...

Scanning electron microscopy images of fibers from engineered spider silk. To validate their computational findings, the Northwestern team used spectroscopy techniques to examine how the protein ...

This pulling action doesn’t just help the spider release the silk, it’s also a crucial step in strengthening the silk fibers for a more durable web. In a new study, Northwestern University researchers ...