World's Biggest Web-Spinning Spidey Found

Method may "make it possible to build bricks from straw'

(NEWSER) - Spider silk is yielding secrets that could pave the way for incredibly strong building materials, researchers say. MIT scientists found that the silk uses a unique crystal structure that makes it both strong and able to bend without breaking. They believe it is possible to copy that structure to turn ordinary materials like wood or straw into flexible and strong "super-materials," the Telegraph reports. More»

Warm weather blamed for influx of funnel-webs

(NEWSER) - A heavy infestation of funnel-web spiders is giving Sydney residents the jitters. Experts say the spider—one of the deadliest and most aggressive in existence—is arriving in unusually large numbers because of warm and wet weather. The spider's bite can be fatal within two hours, although no Australians have died from funnel-web bites since an antidote was developed in 1980. More»

(NEWSER) - Scientists have combined spider silk with metal atoms to boost web strands' already-phenomenal strength, reports Ars Technica. The breakthrough experiment advances the science of creating ever-stronger materials, as well discovering a successful method to bond metal to biological material. Experiments are already under way to make chicken eggs stronger. More»

Up to 5,000 silk threads needed for each string

(NEWSER) - A Japanese researcher who specializes in spider silk has used 300 plucky golden orb web spiders to weave silk threads he could turn into violin strings, reports the BBC . Shigeyoshi Osaki used up to 5,000 silk threads to produce each string, twisting them together tightly in a "unique packing structure" to produce strings with "a soft and profound timbre." More»

Just ask the dancing spider, the jawfish, and the octopus

(NEWSER) - If you're a fan of animal mimicry stories, today's just like your birthday:

• Spider dance: Biologists have discovered that a male wolf spider who sees another male doing a little spider dance to attract a mate will not only mimic the moves but try to improve upon them and outdance his rival, reports Wired . See the gallery for video of one spider watching another and getting his groove on with some serious leg-tapping.