The sight of mucus may be gross – but it actually has many endearing qualities, according to MIT researcher Katharina Ribbeck. “Without it, we wouldn’t be able to smell, we wouldn’t be able to ... While many of us think of mucus as mere tissue fillers, Katharina Ribbeck views it differently.

Context Explanation

“Mucus really is the unsung hero that has been taming problematic pathogens for millions of years,” said ... Katharina Ribbeck’s lab collects mucus—the often gooey substance present in places like the mouth, gut, reproductive tract, and intestines. While the slimy goop may not be pretty from the get-go, a ...