Spider silk is one of nature’s most remarkable materials—stronger than steel by weight, stretchy, and incredibly versatile. Scientists and engineers around the world are studying spider silk to inspire new biomimetic technologies, from lightweight body armor to sensitive vibration sensors.
Join researchers from the UNL Entomology Department for and afternoon of eight-legged encounters. In “Good Vibrations, you’ll explore how trapdoor spiders use silk not to spin webs, but to build secret underground burrows and detect prey using long silk trip lines. These spiders never leave their hiding spot—instead, they feel for the footsteps of unsuspecting prey walking above.
Can you match the sensitivity of a trapdoor spider? Try your hand at detecting “prey” using only vibrations, then unleash your creativity to design and build your very own spider-style “burrow” to take home!
This hands-on activity brings together biology, physics, and engineering as you discover how spiders use silk in surprising ways—and how their secrets might help shape the technologies of the future.
Who: All-ages, but designed primarily for individuals/families with children age 6 & up.
Where: 345 Riverfront Drive
When: July 30: 11am-1pm
Cost: Event is included with any daily admission ticket.
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