When subscribers need a quick answer to a simple science question, they can send it to us by E-mail. We try to respond within about 48 hours.
Spiders make many different kinds of silk, which are used for different purposes.
Some of these are sticky, while others are not. The spider knows which threads are which, and stays off of the sticky ones. Also, some spiders' legs have an oily coating, which helps keep them from sticking to the web. Fillers, such as talc and titanium dioxide, are added to give the paper a smoother finish and whiter color.