Science Says ‘Wrinkly Bath Fingers’ Are A Good Thing

I figured with all this flooding going on in our area there might be a few of us out there who dealt with the water and got a bit of the wrinkly fingers thing going on. Well, it turns out that science says that's a good thing! Keep reading to find out why!

If you're getting wrinkly or pruny and are still in the water...start grabbing stuff!!

From Inquisitr:

Researchers found that when skin puckers on fingers in water, it's due to the blood constricting which then pulls in the skin on fingers (or toes), that process actually helps us get a better grip on objects under water.

 

Lead researcher, Tom Smulders, said of the study’s findings:

“We have shown that wrinkled fingers give a better grip in wet conditions. It could be working like treads on your car tyres which allow more of the tyre to be in contact with the road and gives you a better grip.”

Smulders told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that it was highly likely that wrinkling was an evolutionary advantage that possibly developed to allow for increased mobility on wet surfaces.

“This would explain why it happens to both hands and feet, and might have been an adaptation in some primate ancestor well before humans evolved, who might have walked on all fours.”

An enhanced ability to gather and handle food among wet vegetation, or water areas, or move around slippery ground easier could all have evolved from the need for humans to have those skills, Smulders adds.

So, don't get too annoyed next time you get the ole wrinkly bath fingers...put it to good use!