The third Wednesday in October is Hagfish Day. It's a day for the slimy, evolved hagfish to get some attention. Despite the appearance of the Hagfish, it is a highly evolved creature. In this day, we are encouraged to look beyond the surface and appreciate how beautiful Hagfish are. Just like a book cover, Hagfish have an awful appearance that hides their inner beauty. The hagfish is an unusual creature that scavenges the ocean floor. It looks disgusting and yet it serves a valuable purpose. The hagfish can clean up the debris of dead creatures in the ocean, and its slime, thinner than human hair but stronger than nylon, protects it from predators. Scientists are searching for the potential commercial, medical, and environmental uses of hagfish slime. Another example comes from the U.S. Navy. They created synthetic slime made out of bacteria and a protein to protect their ships. Dr. Josh Kogot, a biochemist, and Dr. Ryan Kincer, a materials engineer, are developing it with E.coli bacteria and a protein found in hagfish slime.

Hagfish Day is an annual celebration observed on the third Wednesday in October. This year it falls on October 20th.

We have been unable thus far to find the creator of this national day, but we will be sure to keep you posted.