What do spiders do in zero gravity? NASA wanted to find out — so they sent some into orbit.
In 1973, NASA’s Skylab hosted two garden spiders, Arabella and Anita, to study how they spin webs in microgravity. The results? Their webs were sloppier and less symmetrical than those spun on Earth — at least at first.
Spider silk is stronger than steel by weight and incredibly elastic. Understanding how gravity affects its structure could lead to new materials or production methods. Scientists hope space-grown silk could one day be used in medicine, construction, or even bulletproof fabric.
After adjusting to their new environment, the spiders started spinning more normal-looking webs — proving that even arachnids can adapt to life off-planet.