Spider Silk Spun Into Violin Strings

jones_supa writes "A Japanese researcher wanted to see how spider silk would convert to strings of a violin. Dr. Shigeyoshi Osaki of Nara Medical University used 300 female Nephila maculata spiders to provide the dragline silk. For each string, Osaki twisted thousands of individual strands of silk in one direction to form a bundle. The strings were then prepared from three of these bundles twisted together in the opposite direction. The final product withstood less tension before breaking than a traditional gut string, but more than an aluminum-coated, nylon-core string. This kind of spider-string is described as having a 'soft and profound timbre.'"

Link to story with video

[c1t1z3nk41n3]

If you are wondering how it sounds you can check here. [geekosystem.com]

Audio of it being played.

[meerling]

Here's a link to the page with the audio if that's what interests you the most.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17243105