This is your spider on marijuana

Spiderman fans already know that spider silk is both strong and pliant, able to stretch without breaking.  Now scientists at MIT’s engineering department have revealed that, when spider silk is combined with a weak material, the resulting compound is strong and flexible.

The scientists’ end goal is to be able to mimic the unique crystal structure of spider silk and synthetically create new, stretchy-yet-tough materials out of ordinary ones. Researchers have proposed using hemp as one of the base materials with which this new substance could be combined.

A word to the wise, though: Please keep your spiders sober, at least while they’re working. The photo shows the half-assed web that one spider spun after NASA scientists gave it marijuana. (Though it’s much better than the spiderwebs made under the influences of caffeine and sleeping pills!)

Check out more mile-high spiderwebs here.