Web.

[ashgael]

Spider webs.
There are many different forms and structures. Cobwebs that look like chaos incarnate. The funnel webs, static tornadoes spread out at the top before spiraling down wherever it is. A cozy hideaway for its creator. Some are traps, some are nets, and some are just a home but all have one thing in common. Even the classic orb web is stronger than anything made by man and we want to know why.
We want to be able to make it or its equivalent for our own use.
Unraveling its secrets will give us stronger lighter materials to make things from.
Better armor, tools and weapons that weigh down our soldiers far less.
Well, that is the main reason the research gets funding.
It is not the only use that it can be applied.
Stronger construction materials that can better hold up to the things nature and man can throw out.
Lighter vehicles that are sturdier than the ones we have now and use less energy to go.
Unfortunately we remain hopelessly entangled in the quest to decipher the lowly web

Comments

[adoptedwriter]

interesting take on the topic!

[gunwithoutmusic]

I liked this - I remember hearing as a child about the strength of spiderwebs, but it never seemed to make much sense because they are so fragile. But then I think about the strength of my own home, and how it may be strong enough to outlast a hurricane, but I imagine that if a giant person that was hundreds of times my size kicked it, it would probably crumble quite easily. So I can see the relative strength in the web. I like how you made this not only about the literal web, but also about being caught in the figurative web of not understanding.

I'm happy to see you playing the home game! :) Keep it up!

[ashgael]

Clearly you never walked into the web of a corn spider.

[murielle]

I recall reading somewhere that they wanted to make stronger bandages with spiderweb technology.

Kuddos to you for taking an entirely different turn on the prompt. Way to go!

Hope to see you home-gaming again!

[halfshellvenus]

The basic material of spider webs IS miraculous, beyond the ability to trap prey.

And yes-- if we could get that incredible strength with so much less weight, it would revolutionize a lot of things we manufacture.

You'd think we could come up with it chemically, but it must be a much more difficult question than that.