Spider webs catch more than prey. They're also jam-packed with animal DNA

Muzammil Hussain February 08, 2024

A man in sunglasses wraps an elaborate spider web around a small plastic stick.

Spider webs, it turns out, trap more than unwitting bugs. The sticky surfaces also contain a bounty of genetic materials from dozens of animal species — making them a powerful tool for measuring biodiversity.

Spider webs, it turns out, trap more than unwitting bugs. The sticky surfaces also contain a bounty of genetic materials from dozens of animal species — making them a powerful tool for measuring biodiversity. A man in sunglasses wraps an elaborate spider web around a small plastic stick.

Spider webs, it turns out, trap more than unwitting bugs. The sticky surfaces also contain a bounty of genetic materials from dozens of animal species — making them a powerful tool for measuring biodiversity.

Radio/As It Happens