Spider silk may be known for being extremely strong, yet it’s also elastic – that’s how it’s able to both hold struggling prey, and alert spiders to that prey by transmitting vibrations caused by those struggles. With these dual qualities in mind, a Design Engineering postgrad from Imperial College London has created a one-of-a-kind violin … using silk spun by an Australian Golden Orb Spider.
Running down the center of Luca Alessandrini’s violin are three strands of the golden silk, embedded in the instrument’s composite body. That body is also made from silk fibers, mixed with a binding agent.
When notes are played on the strings, the vibrations resonate through the three main strands and into the hollow body, creating sound.
via Gizmag
Image: Imperial College London
