For many years, scientists have been haunted by the question: why does the cobweb not sag after it has been very stretched and again weakened? Many researchers tried to recreate material with similar properties in the laboratory, but no one succeeded. And finally, scientists from Oxford University managed to solve the riddle of spider webs. Moreover, they even managed to develop fibers that resemble spider webs with their properties.
The secret of the unusual properties of the web is that its threads are covered with tiny droplets of watery glue, playing the role of "winding coils." They constantly tighten the web, providing it with the necessary tension and elasticity. Having carefully studied this mechanism, scientists from Oxford and Marie Curie University applied it in laboratory conditions and created a synthetic web. In the video below, you can see how a thin plastic thread is twisted with a tiny drop of oil and unwound just as quickly, while remaining stretched along its entire length.
The head of the research team, Dr. Herve Elettro, claims that the synthetic web, which scientists call “liquid wires” among themselves, will find widespread use in a variety of fields. For example, the web can be used to create reversible micromotors, as well as various elastic systems. The fibers of this web can be made from almost any material, which makes its production very affordable.
The article is based on materials .
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