Fascinating Facts about Slime, from Its Ancient Origins to Journey in Space

From its humble origins decades ago, slime has evolved into a booming niche industry. Millions of people around the globe enjoy playing with slime, and some have even made careers out of it.

Slime is a squishy substance that can be made from readily available household items. When you mix the ingredients, they form a polymer substance, something between a solid and a liquid.

Scientists call it a non-Newtonian liquid. It comes in various colors and has evolved so much that it has different texture categories, from glitter to fluffy to glow-in-the-dark slime. People love slime for many reasons, like how fun it is to play with and its educational value.

A kid squeezing blue slime with her hand | Source: Shutterstock

While it can be made at home, it's also manufactured and sold commercially. However, there has been rising concern about the use of Borax to create slime, as it can be a hazardous material. That's why you'll even find Borax-free slime.

As it evolves, many exciting developments continue to arise in the slime industry. Learn more about this substance with this short, comprehensive list of facts about slime.

A kid looking through a hole in blue slime | Source: Shutterstock

Facts about Slime

1. The first toy slime was invented in 1976.

Scientists have been studying naturally occurring slime-like substances for centuries, with the earliest record of such studies dating back to the 1700s.

In 1943, chemical engineer Ruth B. Ginkins created Silly Putty, a product that was meant to be a rubber substitute for use during the First World War. Although Silly Putty would only become a popular "plaything," it paved the way for the toy slime we know today.

In 1976, the toy company Mattel developed the first toy slime by mixing guar gum and sodium borate. The result was an oozy, squishy, green substance packed in tiny garbage cans. It didn't take long for it to fly off the shelves, thus onsetting the toy slime legacy.

A woman playing with green, translucent slime | Source: Shutterstock

2. Slime can be beneficial for mental health.

Slime is a sensory activity that can ground you in the present and help you generate an internal sense of calm. It promotes mindfulness, allowing the stresses of the immediate past or future to fall away. Though admittedly unusual, slime has even been incorporated into therapy.

A young girl playing with yellow slime | Source: Shutterstock

3. Slime has evolved into an art form.

Slime is no longer just a plaything substance for squishing and stretching to your heart's content. Artists have found creative ways to turn slime into beautiful pieces of artwork.

Additionally, slime has its own corner of the internet where social media users create ASMR and visually satisfying slime videos. Some garner such a large audience that they make their own line of toy slime. One such individual is YouTuber and entrepreneur Karina Garcia, a.k.a the "slime queen."

4. Slime once took a trip to space with NASA.

Hopefully, these facts about slime have enlightened you about the squishy product's strides in history. For more informative and entertaining trivia, check out these skunk facts for kids.