[ErinFromTexas (OP)]

Erin Atkinson  asked the Naked Scientists:

Hi!
I just discovered newbielink:http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/ [nonactive] last month and now frolicking through your newbielink:http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/ [nonactive] on my iPod. LOVE IT!!

I have a question:
Have you heard of a cute little Chinese toy called a "Splatter Pig"? Crazy splatter-able plastic that regains its shape in seconds!

If not here is a link to a video of one:
newbielink:http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=27229 [nonactive]
completely remarkable to me... though I am no materials specialist. All over youtube too...

Wondering do you know what they are made of or how they are soooo squishy yet bounce back into their cute piggy selves?

Thanks!
Erin, From Texas

What do you think?

[JnA]

This is the first time I have seen them but it is probably made out of some sort of Shape Memory Polymer.

[AB Hammer]

I would say just a softer form of the toy that we called Stretch Armstrong back in the 1970s. Of course it could also be like those stretchy sticky things the kids get from those 50 cent toy machines.