A new discovery has opened the door to a potential sustainable alternative to synthetic materials: velvet worm slime. The slime, produced by the velvet worm, has been found to have a unique combination of properties that make it a great candidate for use as a material for clothing, footwear, and even medical applications. Scientists from the University of Oxford have been studying the velvet worm slime to determine its potential for use as a sustainable material. The slime is made up of a complex mixture of proteins, polysaccharides, and other biomolecules, giving it a unique set of properties. It is highly flexible and elastic, making it suitable for clothing and medical applications, and it is also resistant to water and oil, making it suitable for use as a waterproof material. In addition, the slime is biodegradable, making it a great option for environmentally friendly applications. The researchers are now working on finding ways to mass produce the slime in order to make it a viable alternative to synthetic materials. This could open up a whole new range of possibilities for sustainable materials in the future.

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source: Phys.org