synthetic spider silk

Closer look at spider ‘signal threads’ could lead to advances in remote sensing technology

By Stephanie Liverani / January 15, 2016

Scientists at the University of Oxford in England are studying the composition of spider web “signal threads” for inspiration when it comes to developing new advances in remote sensing technology.

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Japanese company Spiber partners with North Face to spin synthetic spider silk into first-of-its-kind bioengineered parka

By Stephanie Liverani / November 17, 2015

Japanese company Spiber has joined forces with high-performance sportswear outfitter The North Face to create a parka made from genetically engineered spider silk fiber—the first garment of its kind.

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Arachnophobic? Latest spider-related scientific breakthroughs could quell your fears

By Stephanie Liverani / October 30, 2015

Researchers from the University of Akron (Akron, Ohio) and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Blacksburg, Va.) are getting closer to developing next-generation smart adhesives, thanks to clues from a specific type of spider silk.

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Strong brew: Genetically engineered yeast could be key to cooking up tough, spider silk-like fibers

By Stephanie Liverani / September 30, 2015

Scientists at Bolt Threads in Emeryville, Calif., have been working to develop a scalable way to create synthetic spider silk-like fibers by using genetic engineering. And thanks to $40 million in funding, they’re close to delivering a solution.

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Spider silk without the struggle—a practical synthetic solution is in our future

By Stephanie Liverani / June 15, 2015

After five years of diligent-but-quiet research, Bolt Threads has made “meaningful progress” on developing synthetic spider silk for commercial use.

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