Poisonous bite as a cure? The surprising power of a spider

At a glance

Spiders often trigger flight instincts, but the secretion of the Chinese tarantula holds a medical mystery. A newly discovered molecule in their venom appeared to be weaker than known toxins in the first laboratory test. But appearances are deceptive: in living nerve cells it suddenly develops an unexpected force that blocks pain more effectively than expected - and without the usual toxic risks. Find out what tiny chemical change makes this molecule a potential breakthrough in pain therapy.