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

October 27, 2026 · 6:12 pm 2 sources

Image: The Conversation

Coverage

Coverage

• Earwax is both slippery and sticky – this weird combo might lead to safer insect repellents
  This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. · October 27, 2026 18:12
  Earwax’s unusual physical properties help it repel insects in the lab. Is this a job it evolved to do in animal ears?

More coverage

• Earwax is both slippery and sticky—this weird combo might lead to safer insect repellents
  Phys.org · October 28, 2026 14:00
  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.