Researchers have uncovered a unique hunting strategy of a slingshot spider or ray spider (Theridiosoma gemmosum). These stealthy hunters launch their "ballistic web" at unsuspecting prey. The ...

Entomologist Sarah Han has always been into spiders. "I grew up in California and there are a lot of black widows," says Han. "I would keep them as pets. One day, one of them escaped. That's a mistake ...

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today. This high-velocity maneuver is a ...

However, in 2021, biophysicists Saad Bahmla from Georgia Institute of Technology and Todd Blackledge from the University of Akron and their colleagues discovered that they could trick the spiders into ...

Slingshot, or ray spiders (Theridiosoma gemmosum) pull the center of their flat web back, to form a cone with the spider at the tip, keeping the net in place by holding on to a taut anchor thread.

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today. Entomologist Sarah Han has always been ...

The tiny ray spider uses launches its web to grab its prey out of the air. Though common practice in the superhero world, this ability is actually... Slingshot spiders rely on good vibrations to catch ...