Comments on: What fate awaits the booger?

Question: What fate awaits the booger?

evinrude — Fri, 26 Mar 2004 12:02:27 -0800

Inspired by this thread, I have a question: what happens to boogers after they leave one's nose? If I left a booger on a kleenex for days, what would I see happen? Would it just stay... forever, or until a cat or a spider or something ate it? Or would it... evaporate eventually?

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Fri, 26 Mar 2004 12:12:40 -0800

Why don't you do the experiment and report back to us?

By: angry modem

angry modem — Fri, 26 Mar 2004 12:18:21 -0800

They sort of dry out after a while, and crust over.

By: Shane

Shane — Fri, 26 Mar 2004 12:39:44 -0800

I think they turn to dust. Maybe dust mites eat them then. Mmm.

By: o2b

o2b — Fri, 26 Mar 2004 12:45:21 -0800

Mucus, like jellyfish, are mostly water. Leave a wet goober out for a while and the water will evaporate, leaving behind mucus solids and whatever else was in your nose (dust, dander, dirt, etc -- there could also be food in it, depending on how recently you ate, and how far back you reached to get the goober).

By: birdherder

birdherder — Fri, 26 Mar 2004 12:53:21 -0800

I don't think cats eat boogers.

By: Secret Life of Gravy

Secret Life of Gravy — Fri, 26 Mar 2004 18:02:06 -0800

We just picked up some Purina Brand Voles, Boogers, and Grasshopper Flavor mix. Our cat loves it!

By: evinrude

evinrude — Fri, 26 Mar 2004 20:24:09 -0800

Thanks everyone! The drying-out, crusting-over makes sense to me. I wish I had phrased the question differently so as to receive some scientific analysis, like why, chemically, this happens; but oh well. Live and learn.

By: jpoulos

jpoulos — Fri, 26 Mar 2004 22:05:52 -0800

I don't think cats eat boogers.

Oh yes they do, I'm ashamed to admit. (Forgive me. I was a drunken teen.)

By: andrew cooke

andrew cooke — Sat, 27 Mar 2004 05:42:40 -0800

wasn't there a link on mefi way back about the content of nasal mucus? iirc it's sugars and stuff.