For many kids and a whole bunch of adults, Spider-Man is one of the coolest superheroes of all time. Especially when Tom Holland took over the role. In the movie, Tom has to manually create his “webs” in a lab. While this looks like tech only sci-fi movies can provide, a breakthrough has made it closer than you think. Scientist at Tufts University’s Silklab have developed a revolutionary fiber that behaves like Spider-Man’s web. Keep on reading to discover more about it!
How do the new “spider-man” webs work?
Unlike real spider silk, which is difficult to mass-produce, this new fiber is made from silk moth cocoons. The researchers combined the silk with dopamine and other additives, creating a liquid that solidifies on contact with air. The result? A web-like material capable of gripping and lifting objects, just like in superhero comics. You’re able to shoot the web as a liquid and then it will instantly harden into a strong, sticky thread. This silk-based material can lift objects 80 times its own weight, making it one of the most promising advances in biomaterials.
In lab tests, the team used the fiber to lift steel bolts, scalpels, and wooden blocks from a distance. Though not yet as strong as natural spider silk, this breakthrough could lead to major innovations in adhesives, medical sutures, and robotics.
The Future of Web-Like Materials
If you hoped that this would mean you could buy your personal web shooting device somewhere soon, then we unfortunately got some bad news for you. Humans won’t be swinging between skyscrapers just yet. However, this research does bring us one step closer to high-performance and bio-inspired materials that we can use in real life. Whether this is for industrial use, medicine, or futuristic gripping tools, the new silk fiber could change how we interact with materials. Which eventually might lead to someone making that superhero dream a reality!
Study credit:
- Study: Tufts University Silklab
