Producing spider silk is a biological feat – scientists are using it to develop materials for drug delivery and wound care

If Spider-Man were real, he could help scientists revolutionize healthcare. Since he’s not, researchers develop creative ways to produce spider silk to study.

By: Aliasger K. Salem, University of Iowa, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 4, 2026

Words: 1,296

Last Updated: 2 weeks ago

Body Text Preview

By Aliasger K. Salem, University of Iowa

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” turns organic web production into a superpower. In the 2026 film, Tom Holland’s character, Peter Parker, begins producing webbing inside his body and shooting it from his wrists, rather than firing synthetic web fluid from the wrist-mounted mechanical web-shooters he used in earlier films. The switch transforms a familiar superhero technology into a biological ability and highlights the spectacular properties of real spider silk. …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us