Hooked on Science: Giraffe spit easy to make 8/11/11

Using a few ingredients from around the house, you can create a batch of thick giraffe spit and learn how this adaptation helps a giraffe eat from thorny trees.

Materials

* Cornstarch

* Water

* Large bowl

* Leaf

Instructions

STEP 1: Put 10 tablespoons of cornstarch in a large bowl. Add three tablespoons of water.

STEP 2: Mix the ingredients with your hands.

STEP 3: Add the leaf.

Explanation

One of the giraffe's most interesting adaptations is its ability to eat leaves from thorny trees. The mixture represents their very thick saliva. The saliva protects their mouths from the thorns.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website www.hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science. Send him your science questions at jlindseyhookedonscience.com.