Monday, March 12, 2012

Japanese Researcher Creates Spider Silk Violin Strings

Shigeyoshi Osaki, a researcher at Japan’s Nara Medical University, has used thousands of strands of spider silk to create violin strings.

Osaki has studied spider silk for 35 years. And he heard something 10 years ago that narrowed his focus.

“I was impressed by the beautiful tone from the violin when I heard the music of the violin in the church,” Osaki said. “I have never forgotten that tone since.”

His love of music, combined with his expertise in spider silk, led to his use of dragline silk, which is the silk from which spiders hang, to create violin strings.  Read More