Slime Time

What can you roll into a tight ball, stretch out into long strings, or let drip through your fingers? You guessed it—it’s slime! Whether bought from stores or made at home, slime is all the rage. But have you ever wondered what slime really is?

Most slime is made by mixing craft glue, water, and a substance called an activator. (At home, people often use baking soda and contact lens solution to make the activator.) When these ingredients are combined, a chemical reaction takes place. Long particles in the glue connect with small particles in the activator. The result is a material that is stretchy, squishy, firm, and fluid all at the same time!

These unusual properties are what make slime fun. Social media is full of videos of people sharing their slime recipes. Some kids have even started their own slime businesses!

Camryn Williams, who is from North Carolina, was 9 years old when she started Camryn’s Slime Shoppe in 2020. She calls herself a slimeologist. Camryn sells slime and slime-making tools through her website. She hosts workshops where she teaches others how to make slime.

Camryn got her start by watching videos of people making slime online. “Making slime is a science,” says Camryn. “Kids get excited about seeing how mixing just a few ingredients can make such a fun toy.”