Spider 'Balloons' Descend from California Sky, Baffling Experts

Mysterious objects falling from the sky in California are likely spider silk balloons created by spiders engaging in a phenomenon called ballooning. The silk threads, carried by the wind, help baby spiders find new homes and food without competing with their siblings. Researchers believe that ballooning is a smart strategy for spiders living in unstable environments. The exact species of spiders involved in this phenomenon is yet to be determined, but there are between 45,000 and 50,000 species of spiders on the planet, playing an important role in maintaining ecological balance.