The hagfish, although disgusting, could prove beneficial as researchers analyze the thick slime it secretes in order to re-purpose it for modern uses, according to Science Alert.
When threatened, the hagfish secretes a thick slime from its sides that covers and suffocates attackers.
Swiss scientists from ETH Zurich are at work trying to unlock the mysterious properties of the slime for use in domestic products like baby diapers and plasters, according to the Daily Mail.
Simon Kuster, a researcher working on unraveling that mystery, has discovered with his team the components that make up the slime.
The hagfish's secretions are made up of protein threads and mucin. These combine with the water to create a deceptively strong net.
Kuster and his team are working to produce a synthetic version of the mucus that could be used as an "alternative to polymers made from oil," though it is unlikely the lab-produced version would be an exact duplicate of the original.
"The extremely fast slime formation, the high water content, and protein threads up to 30 cm (12 inches) in length make it a promising material for the development of hydrogels with embedded fibers," said ETH Zurich researchers.
The findings have been published with ACS Publications.
