Who says we're low brow here at CBM? This story is all scientific and stuff. According to an article over at the Deccan Herald, boffins at The University Of Wyoming have had a breakthrough in their search for silk which is as tough as spider-webs - which in weight-for-weight terms, is stronger than steel.
Offers the site..
The Spider Man web, which helps him snare bad guys and swing among the city's skyscrapers, is closer to reality, say scientists who have created genetically modified silkworms which can spin much stronger silk.
Now I'm not sure if these guys actually name checked Spidey or if the website is just putting that spin on it, but one thing is for sure, we do have some super-strong webbing on our hands. Apparently scientists have been trying for decades to reproduce this super-silk but because actual Arachnids are impossible to farm for it (they just don't produce enough), they transplanted genes from spiders into the silkworms. Sci-fi stuff indeed. Realistically the silk could be used in many medical applications including creating artificial ligaments and tendons, tougher wound dressings, and even potentially as a new material for making bulletproof vests. But I know we are all holding out for some high school genius to cobble together a couple of web shooters!