Materials Science :: Alien Slime

Slime is a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning it behaves as both a liquid and a solid depending on how you interact with it. The key ingredient, a polymer like glue, forms long chains of molecules that become tangled when mixed with an activator such as borax or contact lens solution. This cross-linking process changes the viscosity of the substance, giving slime its stretchy, gooey, and moldable properties!

Procedure

1. Choose Your Base: Decide if you want to start with a classic slime or a fluffy foam slime.
2. Mix Your Slime: Follow the basic instructions provided at your station to mix your primary slime base.
3. Become a Materials Scientist: This is where you experiment!
   
   • Want your slime to camouflage on a rocky planet? Add foam beads for texture.
   • Does your planet have bioluminescent creatures? Mix in glow-in-the-dark powder.
   • What color is the atmosphere on your world? Use food coloring to create a custom hue.
4. Test and Observe:
   
   • How does your slime stretch? Does it bounce?
   • How do the different additives change its texture and behavior?

Exploration and Discovery 🤔

• What makes slime, slime? You’ve just worked with polymers! These are long chains of molecules that give slime its unique stretchy and gooey properties.
• How does your slime connect to our other projects?
  
  • Could your slime be a type of fuel for a stomp rocket?
  • Could it act as a shock absorber for the wheels of a Mars rover?
• Think like an Astrobiologist: What kind of alien creature might produce a slime like yours? What purpose would it serve in its environment?