World-first: Gene-edited spider produces glowing red silk threads

The Fun Fact: In the 18th and 19th centuries, the unique properties of spider silk were used to create the crosshairs in telescopes, microscopes, and gun sights. Before synthetic fibers, instrument makers needed an incredibly fine, strong, and uniform strand. They found the perfect material in spider silk, often from the common garden spider. They would build a special frame, place a spider inside, and carefully harvest the silk by winding it onto a spindle. This silk was so fine it was almost i