Spider webs work like nature's guitars

Could you imagine that cobwebs are capable of producing noticeable vibrations? All those woven silk threads woven by arachnids can act as true guitar strings and have many uses, including. But instead of playing songs for the spiders' leisure, they are really for the survival of the animals. At least so says a recent study conducted by the University of Oxford and Strathclyde.

Research has found that spider silk transmits vibrations across a range of frequencies, but they are only felt or perceived by these animals. When a silk thread is swung like a guitar string, the sound it makes brings information about prey, mating mates, and the structural integrity of a web.

Using lasers and gunshots, the researchers were able to analyze the vibrations and found that spiders “touch” their complex constructions like a stringed instrument to gather information about their surroundings. They realized that spider silk threads can be adjusted, just like tuning a guitar or guitar.

The results, published in Advanced Materials magazine, not only revealed more about spiders, but could also inspire a wide range of new technologies, such as small light sensors.

Sound of survival

“Most spiders have poor eyesight and rely almost exclusively on the vibration of silk in their web for sensory information. Silky sound can tell you what kind of meal is tangled in your web, as well as the intentions and quality of a potential partner, "said Beth Mortimer, who led the research at Oxford University.

To study the sound properties of spider wires, the researchers used ultra-high-speed cameras to record the fibers and how they responded to the impact of bullets. Lasers were used to make detailed measurements of even the smallest of vibrations.

Expert Opinions

Dr Shira Gordon of Strathclyde University said: "The fact that spiders can receive these vibrations from each of their legs really exemplifies the impact of our research on web properties found in our study."

Professor Fritz Vollrath of Oxford University added: "These results further demonstrate the excellent properties of many cobwebs, which are capable of combining exceptional strength with the ability to transfer sensitive information. These are the traits that would be most useful. in light engineering for smart sensor generation. ”

Dr. Chris Holland, another researcher who participated in the study, explained that cobwebs are well known for their impressive mechanical properties, but the vibrational properties had been forgotten. "Now we find that they are also amazing communication tools. Once again, spiders continue to impress us in more ways than we can imagine, " Chris said.