Under the microscope, the structures of the two kinds of webbing were generally quite similar, both resembling the silk produced by black widow spiders in nature.
Peter had learned from the literature that scientists at the University of California, Riverside had once conducted detailed research into the genetic code of black widow spider silk and discovered that it contained two key proteins: Masp1 and Masp2.
Both were serine proteases and components of the lectin pathway of complement activation.
Yet the Masp-like substances in the webbing used by these two Spider-Men were more obscure and profound than those found in natural spiders.
They were even almost magical!
This made Peter suspicious. Could it be that the source of their Spider-Man abilities involved not only science, but also something mystical?
Unfortunately, although the school laboratory's equipment was fairly plentiful, it was not enough to conduct further research.
Peter could only make a note of the idea for now and continue his in-depth research once conditions allowed.
Afterward, he found a single-fiber electronic tensile tester in the laboratory.
He had one of these at home too: the big-ass computer on his bedroom desk that Iron Man had mockingly called "retro technology."
The reason that big-ass computer had such a "big ass" was that a motor was hidden inside its main unit base.
With it, Peter could measure the strength of his webbing using manual clamping.
Oh, right. Amazing Spider-Man's little workshop also had one of these things on its desk. It really was in the movie—a tiny one, with something like a monitor beside it. Anyone interested could go look for it.
Clearly, studying webbing was one of every Spider-Man's natural hobbies and shared traits.
However, compared to the two "retro," low-spec versions owned by him and Amazing Spider-Man, the school's was far more advanced.
The one in the school lab used pneumatic clamping. By adjusting the inflow and outflow of air, it could clamp and release slowly, minimizing damage to the material being tested.
The deformation process was also more controllable, allowing for more detailed observation.
If he used his own manual model, Peter would have to constantly control how much force his muscles exerted, carefully manage the strength in his hands, and make observation records at the same time. Just thinking about it sounded exhausting, didn't it?
So if possible, Peter still preferred doing this at school.
Anyway, no one else knew what he was doing.
Teachers generally did not interfere with whatever experiments students were conducting, since every student chose their own research topic.
His classmates were likewise busy with their own affairs and rarely bothered him, except for Ned.
"Peter, what are you researching?"
"Uh, the Stark Internship Program. Composite fiber materials, you know." Peter was quite pleased with this excuse. It seemed he could pin anything on it. With Iron Man taking the blame, anyone with questions could just go ask Iron Man.
"Oh~" Ned suddenly understood. No wonder he had watched for so long without figuring out what Peter was doing.
But that made sense. After all, Ned specialized in electronics and computer programming. It was perfectly normal for him not to understand biomaterials.
So Ned turned back to his own work.
Meanwhile, Peter continued his experiment with the single-fiber tensile tester.
Under the tester's operation, the mechanical properties of the webbing were displayed clearly.
The differences between the two kinds of webbing also became apparent.
Compared with Peter's webbing, Amazing Spider-Man's had greater toughness, mainly reflected in its breaking strength.
However, Amazing Spider-Man's webbing was not as elastic as Peter's. Peter's had a higher elongation at break.
In summary: Amazing Spider-Man's webbing was stronger and harder. It could withstand more force, but because it lost some elasticity, its cushioning performance was relatively lower. If it were used to stick to objects—or even people—the target would have to endure more force than with Peter's webbing.
Because the total force remained unchanged, after all!
Part of the force was absorbed by the latter's elasticity, so naturally less force was transferred to the target.
Still, the effect of such details probably was not significant.
Next, Peter used other equipment in the laboratory to observe it from more angles. He found that both his webbing and Amazing Spider-Man's had densities similar to insect silk, lower than most high-performance fibers such as Kevlar, and far lower than steel.
This discovery meant that he might really be able to use webbing to make clothing!
He only needed to adjust the webbing's rigidity, make it less like its current biological-fiber form, add some other elements, and sacrifice part of its performance. Perhaps he could create a composite material superior to existing polymer fiber materials!
After finishing his research on the material, Peter quietly dismantled the pneumatic electronic single-fiber tensile tester while the teacher was not paying attention. He examined its internal structure and committed it to memory.
When he traveled to other Spider-Men's worlds in the future, there would definitely be even more different kinds of webbing.
He could not possibly wait for lab class every time he wanted to study them, could he?
So he decided that once he got home, he would find a way to completely convert his manual model into a pneumatic one.
Even if it could not compare to this machine, it had to reach at least 90 percent—no, 70 percent—of its performance!
The lab class ended amid Peter's busy work.
No joke, he really had been busy for the entire class.
He just had not been busy with what the class was supposed to cover.
But could doing experiments really be called slacking off?
It was for a better future!
For the prosperity and advancement of all human technology!
Ahem, ahem.
There was nothing particularly interesting about the rest of the day.
Aside from Flash, that annoying guy, routinely butting heads with him and occasionally coming over to show off his clever remarks, Peter's afternoon was remarkably peaceful.
Flash was just an idiot who liked drawing attention to himself.
Peter could not be bothered to stoop to his level.
Interestingly, the guy actually liked the version of Peter in his suit—Spider-Man.
Flash had proclaimed himself Spider-Man's number one fan. He wore clothes printed with Spider-Man designs, kept Spider-Man photos hidden in his backpack, and still occasionally picked fights with Peter, the genuine Spider-Man.
What a rabid stalker fan—though he did not know Peter's true identity.
What else could Peter do about that?
He could only forgive him!
Peter had never imagined that after being active for such a short time, he would already have a diehard fan.
Even more unexpectedly, that diehard fan was his classmate!
Sometimes Peter wanted to put on the Spider-suit, appear in front of Flash, then suddenly take off his mask and reveal his identity, scaring him half to death.
Uh, of course, that was only a thought.
Before you continue