MAN-MADE SPIDER WEB

A group of researchers from Sweden has uncovered one of nature's biggest secrets. The biologists worked out how spiders make such strong silk when they spin their spider webs. The silk that spiders spin is incredibly strong and is tougher than steel. For decades, scientists have been researching what makes the silk so amazing. Finally, researchers from Sweden's University of Agricultural Sciences have found the answer. They found that spiders store the materials for webs as protein and then turn the protein into very strong silk. The researchers copied this to make enough artificial spider-web silk to stretch for one kilometre.

The new artificial silk could be very useful to humans. Doctors are interested in it to use for stitches. They also think it can help the skin recover after a burn. Some doctors believe the new silk could replace torn tissue in the body. Aeroplane producers and makers of protective clothing also see many uses for the new silk. Biologist Anna Rising spoke about how important the discovery could be. She said: "This is the first successful example of copying spider silk. In the future, this may help the textile industry to produce clothing using bio-material." The silk could become an important new material for us in the future.