Scientists Wonder What Fingerprints Are For

Hugh Pickens writes "The BBC reports that scientists say they have disproved the theory that fingerprints improve grip by increasing friction between people's fingers and the surface they are holding. Dr Roland Ennos designed a machine which enabled him to measure the amount of friction generated by a fingerprint when it was in contact with an acrylic glass at varying levels of pressure. The results showed that friction levels increased by a much smaller amount than had been anticipated, debunking the hypothesis that fingerprints provide an improved grip. Ennos believes that fingerprints may have evolved to grip onto rough surfaces, like tree bark; the ridges may allow our skin to stretch and deform more easily, protecting it from damage; or they may allow water trapped between our finger pads and the surface to drain away and improve surface contact in wet conditions. Other researchers have suggested that the ridges could increase our fingerpads' touch sensitivity."

Comments

Putting half of your post in the subject

[Anonymous Coward]

Makes me want to stab you.

Wanking

[Hognoxious]

Is not a city in China.

Re:CSI may have an alternate hypothesis to their u

[Blakey Rat]

How do you know there's not using an auto-balancing centrifuge? I mean, I don't watch the show myself, so maybe I'm way off base, but it sounds like a dumb complaint to me.