A study reveals that feather-legged lace weaver spiders kill prey not by injecting venom, but by covering them with silk infused with regurgitated toxins, using a unique method that lacks venom glands but is equally effective.
Scientists in Germany used CRISPR-Cas9 to genetically modify a common house spider to produce red fluorescent silk, marking the first successful application of gene editing in spiders and opening new possibilities for custom biomaterials.
Jeremy Renner stars in a Super Bowl commercial for Silk, performing his own stunts alongside his real-life daughter, Ava, to showcase his recovery from a near-fatal snowplow accident. The ad features Renner dancing and doing stunts in the kitchen while preparing breakfast, demonstrating his physical and emotional progress since the accident. Despite still being far from a hundred percent physically, Renner feels mentally and emotionally strong, emphasizing the importance of his family and the motivation to recover.
The ending of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 hints at the introduction of new characters, including the possibility of Green Goblin, Silk, Carnage, and Chameleon appearing in future DLC or the next Spider-Man game from Insomniac. The game also teases the potential inclusion of Miguel from Across the Spider-Verse as a cameo or a more substantial role in the future.
The post-credits scenes in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 set up potential storylines for future games and DLC. The first scene features an angry Norman Osborn visiting Doctor Octopus, hinting at a possible collaboration against Spider-Man. The second scene introduces Cindy Moon, also known as Silk, who has a connection to Peter Parker and may play a larger role in future installments. The game's ending suggests that Miles Morales will have to take on the mantle of Spider-Man while Peter Parker retires, leading to a potential showdown with their archenemies. The inclusion of lesser-known characters like Silk adds excitement and speculation about the franchise's future.
The post-credits scene in Spider-Man 2 teases the introduction of Cindy Moon, also known as Silk, a Korean-American superhero with similar powers to Peter Parker. In the comics, Silk has organic webbing and a more advanced spider sense. While it's unclear how Cindy Moon will factor into future games, her appearance suggests she may play a pivotal role in a potential Spider-Man 3 game.
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.
The Afterglow Concert Series in Montgomery, Alabama continues with R&B group Silk performing on Friday and Grammy-nominated artist Joe on Saturday. The concerts are free to the public and take place at the Riverwalk Amphitheater. VIP seating tickets are available for purchase. The concert series is part of the HBCU Classic Weekend, which includes various events happening over the holiday weekend in Montgomery.
Researchers have discovered the gruesome eating behavior of the feather-legged lace weaver spider, which uses a combination of silk and toxic fluids to kill its prey. The spider wraps its prey in a silken web, sometimes hundreds of feet long, and then covers it with digestive fluids containing toxins. These fluids paralyze the insect and break down its tissues, making it easier for the spider to consume. The study suggests that the spider's digestive fluid may be toxic, as no venom glands were found. This unique hunting strategy may have evolved to help the spider survive in environments with large or dangerous prey.