Fun With Slime!!
Slime, while manufactured in several forms as a toy since the 1950s, is actually a very important bodily function of several animals. The scientific name for slime is mucus and the bodies of animals and humans use it to protect them from the environment. The body of an earthworm creates mucus to keep its skin wet so that it can breathe. The human nose also makes mucus, known as snot, to help empty the nose of harmful particles. While there are many biological and practical applications for slime, it is most fun in its toy form. A scientist invented Silly Putty in 1943 and stores began selling it in 1950. Later, in 1976, Mattel began manufacturing Slime – a gooey substance sold in a plastic trash can. Since then, several other versions of this toy have come about, including Gak, Mars Mud, Galatic Ooze and Barrel-O-Slime.
The three major manufactured versions of slime are Silly Putty, Slime and Gak. Almost every retailer that has toys, as well as several convenience stores and grocery stores, sells these products. While Silly Putty and Gak are similar in that they are thicker and more suited for molding, Slime is looser and gooier. There are large amounts of recipes to make replicas of these products, and even some that are edible versions.
There are several fun and interesting experiments to do with Slime products, most notably Silly Putty. Despite the fact that it is denser than water and should sink, it can be made to float by keeping it in its egg container or shaping it into a boat. If it is rolled into a ball it will hold its shape when banged on with a hammer, but all it takes is slow even pressure from a hand to flatten it out. Slime has been used on many a game show as a “punishment” for losing a challenge, most famously on several Nickelodeon programs. Slime first debut on television during the Canadian show You Can’t Do That On Television, and later in 2000 on Nickelodeon’s Slime Time Live, where even audience members would get slimmed.
You Can’t Do That on Television
Another Silly Putty experiment
Silly things to do with Silly Putty
Experimenting with Silly Putty
While slime was, and still is, meant to protect all kinds of animals, the invention of phony slime has given children everywhere not only a fascinating and entertaining toy, but also a valuable learning tool. From watching something that is meant to sink float and seeing green goo dumped all over an unsuspecting TV personality, its amusement value is both endless and priceless.
