Researchers have scanned a natural cobweb with a laser to capture 2D cross-sections and then used computer algorithms to reconstruct the cobweb’s 3D network .
The project’s principal investigator at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has presented the work at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Translation to music
The team assigned different frequencies of sound to the strands, creating "notes" that they combined in patterns based on the 3D structure of the web to generate melodies .
The researchers then created a harp-like instrument and played the cobweb music in various live performances around the world.
The result can be heard here:
The team also made a virtual reality setup that allowed people to visually and audibly "enter" the web .