Scientists reveal how black widow spiders create steel-strength fibers

WASHINGTON - Scientists have revealed how black widow spiders weave steel-strength silks, which could help create equally strong synthetic materials.

The study published on Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal showed that spider silk proteins did not start out as simple spherical micelles as previously thought, but instead as complex, compound micelles. Micelles are clusters of water soluble and non-soluble molecules.

This unique structure is potentially required to create the black widow spider's impressive fibers, which might compare to steel when it comes to tensile strength, according to the study.