In a study, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Rupnagar, have explored how prey is caught and retained by a healthy spider web when compared with a damaged one. The study, published in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, was featured under the theme 'Bioinspired materials and surfaces for green science and technology'. The researchers studied the webs of St Andrew's Cross spider (Argiope aetherea), which builds orb-webs and belongs to the Araneidae family.
Breast cancer remains a significant challenge, particularly in aggressive forms like triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This is a type of breast cancer where the tumour cells lack hormonal receptors, like estrogen receptors. This means that common breast cancer treatments targeting these receptors are not effective against TNBC, making it more challenging to treat and prone to spreading. Scientists are constantly searching for new ways to target the underlying mechanisms that allow these cancer cells to grow and spread unchecked.