Jumping Spiders Spin Tough Silk

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The snap of a finger is dependent on the friction of human skin. Researchers filmed volunteers clicking their fingers while wearing nitra gloves, then altered conditions to see how it changed the snap. When a water based moisturizer was spread on the gloves, the fingers slipped too easily to store up sufficient energy. Too much friction was a problem as well. Rubber gloves were better than the nitural ones at storing energy. But the extra friction hampered the release, slowing the middle finger and dampening the snap. The softness of skin also plays a part.

The Nature salary and satisfaction survey reveals researchers' outlook, and NASA’s test of planetary defences.

In this episode:

00:45 Salary and satisfaction survey

Like all aspects of life, scientific careers have been impacted by the pandemic. To get an insight into how researchers are feeling, Nature has conducted a salary and satisfaction survey. We hear from some of the respondents.

Careers Feature: Stagnating salaries present hurdles to career satisfaction

09:07 Research Highlights

The physics of a finger snap, and the surprisingly strong silk of jumping spiders.

Research Highlight: It’s a snap: the friction-based physics behind a common gesture

Research Highlight: High-speed spinning yields some of the toughest spider silk ever found

11:23 Briefing Chat

We discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, the plans to smash a spacecraft into an asteroid, and how baby formula is changing to better resemble breast milk.

Nature News: NASA spacecraft will slam into asteroid in first planetary-defence test

Chemistry World: The science of breast milk and baby formula

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