All posts tagged: Spider

Scientists Gene-Hack Spider to Produce Bright-Red Silk

Published by José

[ad_1] Researchers used the popular gene-editing technique CRISPR to modify the DNA sequences of house spiders, causing them to produce red fluorescent silk. Scientists are hoping that the US Navy and Air Force-funded research could lead to the development of new “supermaterials” produced by arachnids, Fast Company reports. As detailed in a paper published in the journal Angewandte Chemie, a team of researchers at the University of Bayreuth in Germany injected the eggs of unfertilized female spiders with a CRISPR-Cas9 solution to insert a gene sequence for a red fluorescent protein. After mating with males of the same species, the offspring produced red, fluorescent silk, demonstrating that the experiment had been successful. “Considering the wide range of possible applications, it is surprising that there have been no studies to date using CRISPR-Cas9 in spiders,” said senior author and University of Bayreuth professor Thomas Scheibel in a statement. “We have demonstrated, for the first time worldwide, that CRISPR-Cas9 can be used to incorporate a desired sequence into spider silk proteins, thereby enabling the functionalisation of these silk fibres.” …

This spider traps flashy fireflies as bait to catch related prey

Published by skeptic

[ad_1] beetle: An order of insects known as Coleoptera, containing at least 350,000 different species. Adults tend to have hard and/or horn-like “forewings” which covers the wings used for flight. biology: The study of living things. The scientists who study them are known as biologists. ecologist: A scientist who works in a branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings. firefly: An insect in the family Lampyridae. Also called lightning bugs, fireflies are not flies at all, but beetles. They are known for their beautiful nighttime flashes of light, called bioluminescence. There are more than 2,000 firefly species around the world. New Zealand: An island nation in the southwest Pacific Ocean, roughly 1,500 kilometers (some 900 miles) east of Australia. Its “mainland” — consisting of a North and South Island — is quite volcanically active. In addition, the country includes many far smaller offshore islands. orb: Something having a spherical shape. sequence: The precise order of related things within some series. silk: A fine, strong, soft …

Spaceman: Along Came a Spider and Sat Down… Well, Maybe

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[ad_1] Last Saturday, I talked about Czech astronaut Jakub, flying towards the ominous Chopra Cloud, positioned between Saturn and Jupiter. He’s close to the Cloud; however, his main problem isn’t that; it’s rather that Lenka, his wife, has decided to end their marriage. The leader of his mission, Commissioner Tuma, has not at that point shown him his wife’s final message but Jakub knows something is wrong because Lenka is no longer talking to him. Then, just as he is already experiencing considerable emotional distress, he goes to fix his broken toilet and sees a giant spider in the bathroom. The spider tries to explain itself: It likes the broken toilet’s whine. Jakub understandably assumes he has gone nuts and goes to the airlock. He puts on his space suit and talks to his partner in Mission Control Peter. He tells Peter to release a decontaminant because he thinks something harmful might be polluting the air. Peter reluctantly agrees and decontaminates the ship. After a few minutes, Jakub leaves the airlock. But the spider is …

This ‘spider’ crane enables an offshore wind turbine to virtually build itself

Published by skeptic

[ad_1] Photo: WindSpider Norway’s WindSpider has designed a lightweight crane system that builds offshore wind turbines virtually on its own once the tower is up. The Norwegian startup is being taken very seriously – it’s part of the Energy Transition Norway cluster, and it’s been backed by German global energy company RWE since December 2022. WindSpider announced a deal in early March with Leirvik Group, another Norwegian company that specializes in offshore aluminum structures. The partnership will enable WindSpider to build its “giant aluminum spider” cranes entirely from aluminum. And just because it will be light doesn’t mean it won’t be strong – it will have a lifting capacity of more than 1,500 metric tons for up to 20-megawatt (MW) turbines. Once an offshore wind turbine’s tower is standing, the WindSpider crane is installed. The crane uses the tower as support to install other turbine components. Having the turbine tower as a support structure eliminates relative motion between the crane and the turbine. Its Dolly Crane, which slides up and down the cage, will lift and position …

Oh Good ― Putting A Spider Outside Probably Kills It Anyway

Oh Good ― Putting A Spider Outside Probably Kills It Anyway

Published by Sam

[ad_1] You know the phrase “no good deed goes unpunished”? Well, here goes ― altruists who place unwanted house spiders outside their home instead of killing them may not have a better impact than seemingly cruel bug-smashers. In a recent TikTok sharing “un-fun facts”, app user Alex Falcone shared that “every spider you’ve ever carefully covered with a cup and put outside died outside that day, probably.” Science has his back, too (oh, dear). What? Why? Well, it sounds a bit glib, but ― would you like it? If the answer is “no, I live in the UK; the weather is relentless, and we’re not evolved to live outdoors” well, that’s basically what’s happening here. Only about 5% of house spiders ― the clue’s in the name ― have ever been outdoor spiders, per Seattle’s Burke Museum. “Some house spider species have been living indoors at least since the days of the Roman Empire,” they say. “If the spider is a native to the area, it will likely be able to survive outside. But if …

Photos of the Week: Snowy Soccer, Crouching Spider, Pain Simulator

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[ad_1] Humanitarian aid airdropped into Gaza, the funeral of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow, a skijoring competition in Colorado, a blizzard in California, scenes from Paris Fashion Week in France, a sinking cargo ship off the coast of Yemen, thousands of cross-country ski racers in Sweden, a parade of effigies in Bali, and much more [ad_2] Source link

McLaren Unveils Artura Spider – Geeky Gadgets

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[ad_1] McLaren Automotive has once again set a new benchmark in the realm of supercars with the introduction of the Artura Spider, marking the brand’s first foray into high-performance hybrid convertibles. This latest innovation adds a thrilling new dimension to the esteemed Artura lineup and the broader McLaren supercar range, promising an unparalleled blend of performance, luxury, and sustainability. Unprecedented Upgrades for Unmatched Performance The Artura Spider is not just a convertible variant of its predecessor; it represents a significant evolution over the original Artura. Boasting more power, enhanced performance, and an even greater level of driver engagement, the Spider variant elevates the driving experience to new heights. Similarly, the Artura coupe has also received these comprehensive improvements, further solidifying its position as a next-generation supercar. Both the new Spider and coupe are designated as 2025 model year vehicles, with orders now open and deliveries expected to commence from mid-2024, depending on the region. Powertrain and Performance Central to the Artura Spider’s exceptional performance is its advanced 3.0-litre V6 and E-motor powertrain, which now delivers …

Spider: Play about drama school misconduct lifts curtain on trauma behind the scenes | UK News

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[ad_1] A new play, written by a former drama student, tells the story of a flawed acting school teacher whose out-of-date and unethical practices land him in deep trouble with his students.   Spider is set in a fictional drama school and the writer and director, Jude Benning, says the lead character – Frank Dowling – is a composite of people who still work in the industry. It’s run at the Riverside Studios, in London, and comes after a Sky News investigation in November last year uncovered misconduct and harassment in some of Britain’s leading conservatoires. Speaking to Sky News, Ms Benning says a play exposing disturbing behaviour – through a narrative of black comedy and adventure – is needed now more than ever. “There’s a sort of cult-type aspect to some drama teaching,” she says. “There are characters in power that traditionally have always run away with their power and found it difficult to be aware of themselves and be aware of creating a safe environment for students.” Experiences Ms Benning has researched and heard …

“Pro Life Spider Man” Tries to Climb the Sphere in Las Vegas, Gets Immediately Arrested

Published by skeptic

[ad_1] Yikes. Aborted Stunt An infamous thrill-seeker was recently arrested in Las Vegas after climbing the Las Vegas Sphere, the city’s new glowing orb of wonder entirely covered in screens. Self-proclaimed skyscraper climber Maison DesChamps, a Las Vegas native, was detained on Wednesday after footage of him climbing the 367-foot structure in a white hoodie and sunglasses made the rounds on social media. But a simple daredevil’s lark, this isn’t. DesChamps is a staunch anti-abortion activist who calls himself the “pro-life Spiderman.” According to USA Today, he was scaling the orb as a way of canceling an innocent homeless woman’s upcoming abortion. Have No Sphere DesChamps previously attempted to climb the Accenture Tower in Chicago without any rope. At the time, he was charged with two misdemeanors conducts of reckless conduct and criminal trespass. He then attempted to climb the Chase Tower in downtown Phoenix ahead of last year’s Super Bowl. According to local police, he was facing charges of trespassing and criminal nuisance at the time. The Sphere, however, is a very different beast thanks to …

Spider webs collect DNA that reveals the species living nearby

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[ad_1] Spider webs capture airborne DNA Vechterova Valeria/Shutterstock Elephants, giraffes and rhinos can all be caught in spider webs – or at least their DNA can. Josh Newton at Curtin University in Western Australia and his colleagues have found that spider webs capture the DNA of creatures living nearby, providing researchers with a novel method of surveying wildlife in difficult environments. The researchers studied 49 spider webs from two locations in Western Australia – Perth Zoo and Karakamia wildlife sanctuary, a 268-hectare area of bushland some 50 kilometres east of Perth. Their analysis yielded nearly 2.5 million DNA sequences, which were processed in part with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, the same that is used in covid-19 tests. This technique generates millions or billions of copies of DNA sequences, making it possible to study samples that contained only tiny amounts. Just over 1 million sequences were identified as human and excluded from the analysis. The team members detected non-human vertebrate DNA in all the web samples they tested. The webs from Perth Zoo yielded a …