Artificial spider silk is as strong as steel

Japanese start up Spiber has developed an artificial spider silk which it claims is equal to steel in tensile strength yet as flexible as rubber.

The artificial silk could be used to create artificial blood vessels and ligaments, as well as dissolvable stitches. In the automotive industry, Spiber says it could even lead to bumpers that can absorb a large amount of energy on impact, improving driver safety.