Don’t be surprised if you see the US Army sporting fine garments made from Madagascan bark spider’s silk in the future. It’s “10 times better than Kevlar,” which itself is “5 times stronger than steel on an equal weight basis.”
Discovered back in 2008, the elastic properties of the Caerostris Darwini spider (Darwin’s bark spider) will inevitably be used one day as a natural fiber alternative to Kevlar, which as you know is used in rope, armor, building equipment, and for other uses when strength is of importance.
Capable of spanning 30sq foot areas, the webs hang from 80ft-long lines, and are used by the spiders to trap its food. [Wired]
