Simulations showed that stretching aligns protein chains and increases hydrogen bonds, which act like tiny bridges between them. These changes enhance the silk’s strength, elasticity, and toughness.

When compared weight-for-weight, spider silk has a higher tensile strength than steel yet is almost as elastic as rubber. Leading manmade fibers such as nylon are less than half as tough.

This pulling action doesn't just help the spider release the silk, it's also a crucial step in strengthening the silk fibers for a more durable web. In a new study, Northwestern University ...

The project was led by Dr. Xiaoli Zhang, the Company’s research manager, whose team continues to push the boundaries of genetic engineering for spider silk production.

Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) ("Kraig Labs" or "the Company"), a leading developer of spider silk-based fibers, today announced a significant ...

This pulling action doesn't just help the spider release the silk, it's also a crucial step in strengthening the silk fibers for a more durable web. In a new study, Northwestern University ...

This pulling action doesn’t just help the spider release the silk, it’s also a crucial step in strengthening the silk fibers for a more durable web. In a new study, Northwestern Engineering ...

Scanning electron microscopy images of fibers from engineered spider silk. To validate their computational findings, the Northwestern team used spectroscopy techniques to examine how the protein ...