Comics and science have officially collided in the real world, as Marco Lo Presti from Tufts University’s Silklab has inadvertently broughtSpider-Man’sweb-slinging to life while tackling the challenge of underwater adhesives. This breakthrough began in 2020 and has come a long way since, with the silk fiber Lo Presti developed now capable of catching objects from 30 to 35 centimeters away and lifting weights of around 15 to 20 grams. AKA the era of Spider-Man has officially begun.
…science is evolving to the point where it can replicate something once thought purely fictional…
Researchers at a lab in Medford, Massachusetts, have developed a cutting-edge silk fiber inspired bySpider-Man’s web-slinging abilities. The process involves shooting a combination of silk fibroin (derived from Japanese silk moth cocoons) and dopamine through a coaxial needle, surrounded by acetone.
As the acetone evaporates mid-air, the dopamine speeds up the substance’s solidifying process, turning the silk into sticky, strong fibers by pulling water away from the silk—a process that usually takes hours but now happens instantly. The team tested the fibers' strength and adhesiveness by capturing and lifting objects like bolts, wood blocks, and lab tools. So the obvious question now, iswhen will be able to pull a Spider-Man and start swinging from buildings?
What Are the Real-World Applications of Lo Presti’s Spider-Man-Esque Silk Fiber?
Unknown / 616 / Comic Traders / Antihero Gallery David Nakayama Variant forThe Amazing Spider-Man#19 (2023)
The Silklab team isn’t swinging from buildings just yet, but they’vespeculated on potential uses for their silk fibers, such as retrieving objects lost underwater or aiding drones in remote environments. According to Omenetto–professor of engineering at Tufts and“puppeteer”of the Silklab–the material’s properties hold incredible potential, as silk is naturally strong and capable of lifting significant weights. However, questions remain about its ultimate capabilities, such as how much it can lift or whether it can remotely drag objects. These unanswered questions drive the team’s ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of what this innovation can achieve.
Lo Presti is eager to collaborate with others to refine the material for real-world applications. After publishing his work on underwater adhesives, a nonprofit reached out with a unique challenge:could the fibers be used to tag sharks?Initially doubtful due to the adhesive’s rigidity and the movement of sharks, Lo Presti took on the challenge and is now actively developing a solution with the organization. He believes this kind of adaptation is key to unlocking the silk fibers’ true potential, something that science lovers and Spider-Man fans will undoubtedly be following closely to see just how far the limits of these silk fibers can be pushed.
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“A Material that Mimics Superpowers Is Always a Very, Very Good Thing.”– Fiorenzo Omenetto
Drew Zucker SDCC Exclusive Virgin Variant forThe Amazing Spider-Man#20 (2023)
Fiorenzo Omenetto, who has been working alongside Lo Presti on the Spider-Man-esque silk fiber,provided deeper insight into the discovery, its ongoing development, and how the connection to Spider-Man’s web-slinging abilities became apparent.Omenetto explained that while many assume scientific experiments are carefully planned with equations and extensive preparation, the reality is often more about recognizing unexpected connections as they emerge. This approach was key in their work with the silk fiber, where the team stumbled upon something that immediately sparked a moment of realization.
Both professionals paused and asked themselves,“Wait a second, is this like a Spider-Man thing?”While initially, the connection might have seemed trivial or easy to brush off, Omenetto pointed out that there’s no denying the excitement of creating a material that mimics superpowers.“A material mimicking superpowers is always a very, very good thing,”he stated. Though he didn’t go into detail about this latter statement, it’s clear that the remark implies that this is a significant breakthrough becausescience is evolving to the point where it can replicate something once thought purely fictional, like Spider-Man’s web-slinging abilities.
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Silklab’s New Material & Ejecting Mechanism Echoes Spider-Man’s ORIGINAL Web-Slinging Ability
Main Cover by Jack Kirby & Steve Ditko forAmazing Fantasy#15 (1962)
The connection between the silk fiber and the ejecting mechanism developed by Tufts University’s Silklab and Spider-Man’s web-slinging abilities goes beyond just superficial similarities. It actually mirrors Stan Lee’s original vision for the character. Starting inAmazing Fantasy#15, Peter Parker’s web-slinging powers come from two small devices he designs and attaches to his wrists, which are activated by finger pressure to produce strands of ejectable"spider webs.“This aligns closely with the silk fabric ejector that Silklab has developed, which mimics the mechanics of Spider-Man’s original web-slinging. In contrast, some modern interpretations of the character have shifted, showingSpider-Manable to shoot webs without web-shooters, with the webs being an organic part of his transformation.
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