slime

Slime is a viscous, gelatinous substance that occurs in nature as secretions produced by animals and microorganisms, or it may be manufactured for consumer use as a toy or novelty product. Natural slime serves various biological purposes, such as lubrication, protection from desiccation, and defense against pathogens, and can form protective mucus layers on skin and gills.

Many land and aquatic animals produce slime by secreting mucous substances from glands. Slime helps locomotion, reduces friction, traps debris, and can deter predators through texture and taste. In some ecosystems, slime forms biofilms produced by bacteria and other microorganisms that contribute to nutrient cycling and soil structure.

Slime molds are not true fungi. They are protists that produce slimy masses during their life cycles. The two main groups are plasmodial slime molds, which form a single multinucleate cell called a plasmodium, and cellular slime molds, in which individual cells aggregate into a slug-like structure. They are studied for their ability to solve mazes and optimize foraging strategies, despite simple cellular rules.

Toy slime is widely manufactured from polyvinyl acetate glue and a borate-based activator, or from saline solutions with poly(vinyl alcohol). The resulting gel is a non-Newtonian, often stretchable material that flows under pressure and can be molded or pulled into threads.