WHY ? is our attempt to answerall the questions every little Thomas Kid ask . Do you have a question ? Send it towhy@mentalfloss.com .
Have you ever acknowledge that your fingers and toes get wrinkled when you ’ve been soaking in water for a while ? We often call this “ prune hands , ” because it have your fingers look shriveled like a prune . ( A prune is a dry plum tree . ) The shriveling happens when blood vessels under your hide get narrow . This is have by yourautonomic(Aw - toe - NAW - mick)nervous system . Thissystem keeps your lungs ventilation and your heart shell without you having to call back about it .
The wrinkles seem to help us grip and not splay ! appear at the bottom of your shoe . Does it have groove ? Those are call tread . The tyre on cars and coach have tread too . The water system that goes into those narrow groove gets pushed aside . It influence the same way with your skin . Water drains from your hands through these grooves . We think this aid us to hold up onto object better . Scientists tested this possibility with an experimentation . They require people with moisture , wrinkled hands to beak up wet marbles and dry wits . citizenry pick up the wet marble faster with wet , wrinkle hands .
Some scientist now consider that humansevolved(Ee - VAWLVD)—changed over clock time — to have this chemical reaction . Being able to hold onto blotto things might have help our ancient antecedent survive . Think about it : if your solid food lives in a wet place , like a river , ocean , or rainforest , you have a better chance of grabbing it if your fingers “ stick ” to it . If you are climbing a wet tree , wrinkled fingers might help keep you from fall . Wrinkled toe can avail , too . If you ’re barefoot , your toes need a unspoilt grip in wet or muddy places .
Want to hear more about the marble experimentation ? Watch thisvideofrom SciShow .
