The marvelous powers of mucus

It's snot just a pesky cold symptom

Light micrograph of human sublingual salivary gland with mucus cells and a duct
Mucus is present in several bodily organs and help prevent disease as well as aid in pivotal functions
(Image credit: Ed Reschke / Getty Images)

While we may think of mucus as merely the slimy substance that clogs our nose and gets blown into a tissue, it's so much more. It lines several body organs, acting as a first line of defense against foreign invaders, as well as aiding essential body functions like digestion and illness prevention. And now scientists are taking inspiration from mucus for new disease-fighting treatments.

What is mucus made of?

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Devika Rao, The Week US

 Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.