A Japanese startup called Spiber Inc. said it has produced an artificial spider thread by bioengineering bacteria with recombinant DNA to produce spider-thread proteins, and then isolating those proteins into a fine powder, which can be pushed through a hollowed-out needle tip to form wispy thread.
The company claims the artificial thread is equal to steel in tensile strength yet as flexible as rubber. The company hopes to spin enough of the thread for mass production within two years, potentially opening the door to creating lighter but stronger auto parts, surgical materials and bulletproof vests.
Read the full article here: Can Spider Web Be Replicated? A Japanese Startup Thinks So.
