A group of researchers at Tufts University has developed a breakthrough that seems ripped straight from the pages of a comic book: the creation of a device that can shoot sticky fibers, similar to Spider-Man’s web-slinging technology.
The creation of web-slinging technology
The team is composed of and led by researcher Marco Lo Presti, who “accidentally” discovered a technique that uses silk fibroin , dopamine and other additives to generate a resistant fiber .
By injecting the silk solution through a needle surrounded by acetone, the fibers solidify in the air, achieving an impressive adhesion . This breakthrough was inspired by both the natural capabilities of spiders and the imagination of the creators of the ” Spider-Man ” comics.
The technology has the ability to lift objects weighing up to 80 times more than the fibers themselves. In addition, researchers estimate that this innovation could have applications in multiple fields, from robotics to manufacturing and the collection of objects in difficult environments.
The Tufts lab has been a pioneer in using biological materials to develop new technological solutions. Although the fibers produced do not yet reach the strength of natural spider webs, the researchers are convinced that they will continue to refine their creation to overcome those limits.
Silklab leader Fiorenzo Omenetto highlighted that the inspiration for this breakthrough came from both nature and the world of superheroes, demonstrating once again how science and fiction can intersect to create real-world solutions.
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Source and photo: Eurekalert
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