With　electron-beam　(e-beam)　off,　in-situ　tensile　experiments　on　amorphous　silica　nanowires　(NWs)　were　performed　inside　a　transmission　electron　microscope　(TEM).　By　controlling　the　loading　rates,　the　strain　rate　can　be　adjusted　accurately　in　a　wide　range.　The　result　shows　a　strong　strain　rate　effect　on　the　plasticity　of　amorphous　silica　NWs.　At　lower　strain　rate,　the　intrinsic　brittle　materials　exhibit　a　pronounced　elongation　higher　than　100%　to　failure　with　obvious　necking　near　ambient　temperature.　At　the　strain　rate　higher　than　5.23　x　10(-3)/s,　the　elongation　of　the　NW　decreased　dramatically,　and　a　brittle　fracture　feature　behavior　was　revealed.　This　ductile　feature　of　the　amorphous　silica　NWs　has　been　further　confirmed　with　the　in-situ　experiments　under　optical　microscopy　while　the　effect　of　e-beam　irradiation　could　be　eliminated.　(C)　2014　AIP　Publishing　LLC.