Snot, or nasal mucus, serves important protective functions in the nose. It is produced by mucous membranes and is mostly made of water and mucin. Mucus moisturizes the inside of the nose and traps particles like dust and bacteria using tiny hairs called cilia. When an infection is present, mucus carries bacteria and dead cells, which is why it can sometimes turn yellow. Mucus is sticky because it contains long protein strands made of sugars and proteins that help it stretch and filter particles in the nose.

1. The Science of Snot
What exactly is snot? What is it made up of and what
does it do for our bodies?

2. • Why is it green?
Or yellow?
• What is the
purpose of the
snot in our nose?
• What exactly is
snot or
boogers?

3.  Scientifically called:
 Dried Mucus
 boog·er
Pronunciation: 'bu-g&r, 'bü-
Function: noun
Etymology: alteration of English dialect buggard,
boggart, from 1bug + -ard
Date: 1866
1 : BOGEYMAN
2 : a piece of dried nasal mucus
What is Snot?

4.  The internal portion of your nose is lined with something called a
mucous membrane.
 This membrane is a thin layer of cells that produces mucus, a kind of
slime. Mucus is mostly water and mucin, which is a kind of sugar.
 In the nose, mucus has two roles.
 One is to moisten, lubricate, and protect the inside of the nasal
passage.
 The other is to work as a kind of filter in combination with tiny hair-like
projections called cilia.
 Cilia moistened by the mucus trap dust, bacteria, and other small
particles breathed in with air along with head cells that come from the
lining of he nose itself. This filter is very important to preventing all that
junk from reaching the lungs.
 If some bacteria make it past the defenses of the mucous membrane
and you get a sinus infection snot also carries out the products of those
bacteria and the cells killed off by them. This is why snot turns yellow.
What is snot made of?

5. Why is snot so sticky?
Mucus is made mostly of sugars
and protein. Although different
than the ones found in the real
thing, this is exactly what you
used to make your fake snot. The
long, fine strings you could see
inside your fake snot when you
moved it around are protein
strands. These protein strands
make snot sticky and capable of
stretching.

6.  What you need:
 Borax
 Water
 Glue
 Food coloring
Making your very own “snot”

7.  Stir 3 spoonfuls of water into 2 spoonfuls of glue
(already in your paper cup)
 Stir in 2 drops of your favorite food coloring
 Add 1 spoonful of borax solution to glue mixture/food
coloring mixture
 Stir around with wooden stick
 Put in plastic bag and enjoy your “snot.”
Instructions for “snot”