If you’re afraid of spiders, you may want to skip this article. A nightmare straight out of Arachnophobia was discovered in Baltimore’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. Researchers found spiderwebs covering 95% of the building’s interior — which spans a whopping four acres — and the plant is estimated to be the home of 107 million spiders. Most of the spiders found in the massive webs around the plant were orb weavers, which measure around a half-inch long. The brave experts that studied the all-encompassing webs estimated that around 35,176 spiders could be found in every cubic inch of space, possibly making the nest the most concentrated spider population in the United States. The massive webs were first discovered by horrified employees. In some places, the webs were so thick that they permanently damaged structure fixtures and lighting, pulling them down with their weight. When spun at that thickness, spider silk can be as strong as alloy steel. Left undisturbed, the spiders were able to thrive while feeding on other insects and the nutrient-rich water produced at the wastewater treatment plant.
