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5 Fascinating Uses of Spider Silk

Spiders use their silk for a variety of things, and humans have found uses for it, too.

By Allison Futterman
May 18, 2022 9:00 PM
spider web
(Credit:bbbb/shutterstock)

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Though all spiders produce silk, not all spiders spin webs. In fact, out of more than 40,000 types of spiders that exist, only half of them make webs. Even though the feeling of walking through a spider web can give you the heebie-jeebies, spider webs are natural marvels of construction and strength, with many interesting aspects to them. Here are five interesting ways spiders and humans can use spider silk. 

1. Trapping Prey

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