Velvet Worm slime could inspire sustainable synthetic materials, study finds

webfull — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 14:56:54 +0000

In the tropical, temperate forests it calls home, the velvet worm uses a projectile “slime” to capture its prey. When it’s ejected from the worm, the slime transforms into a gel before solidifying into stiff fibers upon exposure to air. This forms an inescapable trap for struggling prey. "The fact that the slime transitions from a liquid to a solid in mid-air is extremely unusual," said Professor Matthew Harrington, co-director of the �山ǿ�� Institute for Advanced Materials. “It appears that the forces it experiences when ejected initiate the transition.”

Published: 31 October 2023

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Velvet Worm slime could inspire sustainable synthetic materials, study finds