Silly Putty

Silly Putty was invented in the 1940s by James Cox, an engineer working in the United States. He originally stumbled upon the rubbery polymer while attempting to find a synthetic rubber substitute for the war effort.

It is a viscoelastic solid, which is a type of non-Newtonian fluid that exhibits both viscous and elastic properties. Because of its unique molecular structure, the material will slowly flow like a liquid over time but snaps cleanly when stretched rapidly.

When pressed firmly against newsprint, the chemical structure of the putty easily absorbs the heavy, oil-based inks used in older printing presses. This quirk became the primary marketing gimmick for the toy when it was mass-marketed in plastic eggs.

No, because it is composed primarily of silicone polymers rather than water, Silly Putty will not dry out or crumble like traditional modeling clay. As long as it is kept away from extreme heat or harsh solvents, it remains pliable indefinitely.