Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Science

Earwax is both slippery and sticky—this weird combo might lead to safer insect repellents

What has the consistency of both toothpaste and dough, can absorb twice its weight in water and still remain sticky, was used by medieval artists as a binder in paint and has been hypothesized by physicians to repel insects? It's earwax.

Earwax is both slippery and sticky—this weird combo might lead to safer insect repellents
Image: Phys.org
What has the consistency of both toothpaste and dough, can absorb twice its weight in water and still remain sticky, was used by medieval artists as a binder in paint and has been hypothesized by physicians to repel insects? It's earwax.

Originally published at Phys.org

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