Properties and Uses of Slime

Slime Properties

• Slime is made of polymers, long chains of large molecules called monomers
• Slime has an amazing bouncy stretchiness
• Slime can act like both a liquid and a solid
• Slime has a high viscosity (thickness) – up to 20,000 times thicker than water

Slime Ingredients

• Homemade slime can be made using different combinations of ingredients
• A common recipe involves glue, baking soda, contact lens solution, and water

Slime in Space

• In May 2020, NASA astronauts brought slime to the International Space Station (ISS)
• Slime behaved in microgravity, floating in a perfect sphere and stretching into an oblong shape when spun

Mighty Mucus

• Humans produce a natural slime called mucus
• Mucus protects eyes by preventing dust, pollen, etc. from entering
• Mucus keeps the lining of the mouth and throat moist, allowing things to move smoothly
• Mucus lines the lungs to help them function properly
• Mucus in the intestines helps food particles pass easily through
• Mucus in the stomach protects its lining from the acidic environment
• Mucus can trap bacteria and other invaders

Animals and Slime

• Snails and slugs use slime trails to communicate and find mates
• Parrotfish use mucus bubbles for protection and sleep
• Velvet worms use slime to capture prey
• Hagfish use a protein, mucin, which turns into a thick slime to deter predators
• Aquatic limpets use slime trails to find their way back home

Slime Facts and Figures

• The world's largest slime weighed 10,350 kg (22,817 lb).
• The largest slime was made in June 2018, in Austria
• 491 people learned about slime at the Montreal Science Centre in June 2022