The Science Behind Spider-Man

The world of superheroes is larger than life, and it contains some fascinating scientific action. Ever since Spider-Man was introduced in 1962, nearly 60 years ago, children and adults alike have been allured by the charm of the friendly neighbourhood web-head. The question stands, is it too good to be true?

Alas, only two of Peter Parker’s powers may be deemed realistic with technical aid. Scientists have discovered that spider silk is in fact strong enough to stop a train. Considering the weight and average speed of a New York subway car filled with 984 people, the webbing would have to exert a force of 300,000 Newtons. Turns out, only 3.12 gigapascals of elasticity are required for this feat, an amount easily accomplished by orb-weaving spiders.

But it isn't just Spider-Man’s silk that could be real, the Spider Sense could have a concrete basis in science too. Victor Mateevitsi, a graduate student at the University of Illinois, has created a suit that could inform its user of potential threats. This suit uses microphones that transmit high frequency sound waves reflected by nearby objects. When a person or object approaches, the microphones respond by increasing pressure in the area of the suit closest to the 'threat'.

Unfortunately, it’s not likely that you’ll be in contact with a radioactive spider any time soon. Regardless, gaining superpowers, even if a radioactive bear bit you, is pretty improbable. A creature that big still wouldn’t have enough radiation in its saliva to pose a serious health risk, much less a tiny spider (well, except for the bite itself). Not to crush your dreams entirely, there has been significant research on wall crawling, as well as impressive advancements on developing a hydrogel adhesive that may allow humans to stick to walls.

While there may never be a real Spider-Man in this world, figuring out why might lead us to more technological breakthroughs. After all, with great power comes great responsibility.