0:11:51 > 0:11:57.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Welcome to Science Fiction,
0:12:06 > 0:12:09the show which investigates scientific mysteries...
0:12:09 > 0:12:11And never leaves you dangling.
0:12:11 > 0:12:12Aaah!
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Bud-E, what have you got for us?
0:12:14 > 0:12:18Today's question comes all the way from Alice in Dallas.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24There may be over 40,000 different species of spider in the world,
0:12:24 > 0:12:26but all of them are known to spin silk
0:12:26 > 0:12:29from glands located in their abdomens.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33But sure, what would they be wanting silk for? Running up frocks, is it?
0:12:33 > 0:12:37Firstly, it enables them to get from A to B quickly and efficiently,
0:12:37 > 0:12:41and many species also use it to build webs with which to trap prey,
0:12:41 > 0:12:43like flies and moths.
0:12:43 > 0:12:44That's brilliant.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48It means they can just sit around waiting for the takeaway to show up!
0:12:48 > 0:12:51They even coat their webs with glue.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55So if you landed in one, you'd be in a right sticky situation. Aah!
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Now, spiders can walk wherever they want in their own web
0:12:58 > 0:13:00because they emit an oil which repels their own glue.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03Urgh, emitting oil - that's rotten!
0:13:03 > 0:13:06We know this because spiders are more likely to get stuck
0:13:06 > 0:13:07after they've been washed.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Actually, that reminds me of a summer job I had once.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12And if all that wasn't enough,
0:13:12 > 0:13:16spiders also have fine hairs on their legs, called seddae,
0:13:16 > 0:13:17which are repellent to glue.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20Actually, Doctor, speaking of fine hairy legs,
0:13:20 > 0:13:22what do you think of that there?
0:13:22 > 0:13:25- Uh... Not now, Professor. - Okey-dokey.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28So, Alice, spiders don't get stuck in their own webs
0:13:28 > 0:13:30because the oil and the seddae prevent glue
0:13:30 > 0:13:32from coming in contact with their legs.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35And that's no science fiction - that's a fact, boy.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38# Science Fiction. #
0:13:38 > 0:13:42So, Dr Knowles, do you have hairy legs yourself?
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Do you want to throw one up there and we'll have a look at it?