Investigating spiders: life on a thread - for iPod/iPhone - podcast cover

Investigating spiders: life on a thread - for iPod/iPhone

The Open Universitywww3.open.ac.uk
Whether you find spiders fearful or fascinating, they are to be admired for their web-spinning and prey-catching techniques, and the remarkable methods they use to move from one place to another. In this album, researchers in Denmark and the United States use an 8-legged robot and a virtual spider, high-speed photography, a hot air balloon and a rowing boat to explore the biophysics of spiders. In the audio track, Dr David Robinson of The Open University explains how advances in technology allow advances in scientific knowledge and understanding. This material forms part of The Open University course S204 Biology: uniformity and diversity.

Episodes

Investigating the biophysics of spiders

David Robinson explains the difference between spiders and insects, and takes a close look at how technology allows us to learn more about thie behaviour.

May 26, 20087 minTranscript available on Metacast

Ballooning spiders

Bio-physicist Bob Suter goes spider hunting in a hot air balloon.

May 16, 20085 minTranscript available on Metacast

Spiders' webs

Biologist Fritz Vollrath disentangles the science of spiders’ webs.

Apr 24, 20083 minTranscript available on Metacast

Boating spiders

Bio-physicist Bob Suter shows how some spiders can move over a water surface.

Apr 24, 20086 minTranscript available on Metacast

Galloping spiders

Bio-physicist Bob Suter explains how some spiders gallop across the surface of water.

Apr 24, 20082 minTranscript available on Metacast