In the tropical, temperate forests it calls home, the velvet worm uses a projectile 鈥渟lime鈥 to capture its prey. When it鈥檚 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 缅北强奸 Institute for Advanced Materials. 鈥淚t appears that the forces it experiences when ejected initiate the transition.鈥