Find out how web-spinning spiders do what they do and learn about the impressive, multipurpose material they use to catch their dinner. Spiders make their webs from silk, a natural fibre made of ...

In this case, we’re talking about genetically modified yeast that produces spider silk. If that sounds like a lead-in to some Spiderman jokes and sci-fi references, you are correct on both accounts.

He briefly considered metal wires, layered metal sheets, and layered “goldbeater’s skin”, which is a material made from ox intestine. However, he devoted most of his attention to silk.