How do spiders spin webs?

Spiders spin webs by making silk inside their bodies, then pulling it out through tiny organs called spinnerets. A first strand can drift on air and fasten to a nearby surface. From there, the spider walks, drops, and turns, laying lines that become a frame, spokes, and a sticky spiral.

The clever part is that one spider can make several silks for different jobs. Some threads are strong walking lines, some are gluey insect traps, and some protect eggs. Many web-building spiders even take down an old web and reuse the silk proteins for the next one.