0:00:05 > 0:00:08Hi, welcome to Science Fiction. I'm Dr Knowles.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11And I'm Prof Mike McCork, from County Cork!
0:00:11 > 0:00:14Today's question, please, BUD E?
0:00:14 > 0:00:16Oh, bear with me there, love.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20Ah, today's question comes from Dennis in Ennis...
0:00:23 > 0:00:25Very common question.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29Snot occurs when your nose creates a gooey substance known as mucus.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32This gooey stuff, it's like a face lava, if you like.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Imagine there's a volcano inside your nose
0:00:35 > 0:00:38and then it just erupts - bang!
0:00:38 > 0:00:40- Now, this mucus...- Or snot.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42- This mucus...- Or booger. - Professor!- Ah!
0:00:42 > 0:00:44Now, this mucus is mostly made up of water
0:00:44 > 0:00:48but also contains salt, proteins and carbohydrates.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Its main job is to protect you from invaders.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53These include germs, dust, pollen...
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Flies, burglars, Vikings, other people's fingers, tennis balls...
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Skip to the next bit, Professor.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02Ahem! Now we all know that snots can be delicious, don't we?
0:01:02 > 0:01:05But they are full of all sorts of unpleasant stuff
0:01:05 > 0:01:08- so you should only eat them in moderation.- Urgh!
0:01:08 > 0:01:11You should never eat them! It's totally gross!
0:01:13 > 0:01:15O-M-G.
0:01:15 > 0:01:20Anyway, Dennis, producing snot is a normal and vital bodily function -
0:01:20 > 0:01:22not a sign that your brain is melting.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Sure, that's just a load of old science fiction!
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Anyone got a hanky? I've made a right mess.