Cosmic Critters: The Spiders Who Spun Webs in Space

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In this out-of-this-world episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole unravel the story of two unexpected astronauts: Anita and Arabella, the garden spiders launched aboard Skylab 3 in 1973.

🕸️ Can spiders spin webs in zero gravity?
 🕷️ How do they adapt without gravity to guide them?
 🛰️ What can eight-legged astronauts teach us about behavior and resilience in space?

Anita and Arabella weren’t just part of a quirky science experiment—they were pioneers in understanding how instinctual behavior and motor coordination function in microgravity. From chaotic silk chaos to stunning symmetrical webs in just two days, these space spiders proved life can adapt in the most alien environments.

Whether you're an arachnid enthusiast, a space nerd, or just love weird science history, this episode is for you.

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