A remarkable Israeli achievement may have far-reaching implications in future development of products ranging from micro-conductors and optical fibers to fishing rods, surgical thread and even clothing. For the first time anywhere, scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and from Germany, have succeeded in producing self-assembled spider web fibers under laboratory conditions, outside of the bodies of spiders. This fiber is significantly stronger than the silk fiber made by silkworms. The achievement by the research team, described in an article in the current issue of Current Biology, opens the way to commercial development of this spider fiber for numerous industrial applications.
