Ask Dr. Universe

How do spiders make silk? Also, sometimes spiders hang down from the ceiling, when they climb back up, where does the silk go? –Johnny, 8, Pullman, WA.

Dear Johnny,

Spiders can do some amazing things with their sticky, stretchy and super-strong silk. We cats are pretty curious about these little silk-spinning machines, too.

Besides chasing spiders around, I’ve watched them use silk to build webs, catch bugs, and protect their young spiderlings.

Some spiders will even eat their own web. Imagine if you could build your own house and eat it, too.

Spiders have lots of jobs to do and eating their w...