00:00Have you always wondered, why our fingers get all wrinkly when exposed to water?
00:04Well, it turns out this weird little trick may actually be one of evolution's sneakiest survival hacks.
00:10For years, scientists thought that pruney-looking fingers happen because our skin simply absorb water like a sponge.
00:17But it turns out, finger wrinkling isn't passive at all. Your body is doing it on purpose.
00:23Scientifically speaking, your fingers are not becoming soggy. They're entering grip mode.
00:28That's right. Researchers now believe those raisin-like fingers evolved to help us grab wet objects better.
00:34When exposed to water, blood vessels in your fingers tighten up, which pulls the skin inward and creates those wrinkles,
00:41which helps channel water away.
00:43Kind of like treads on tires, which made life a lot easier for our early ancestors.
00:48Oh, and here's another odd twist. Your fingers wrinkle much more than any other parts of your body.
00:53Always wondered. Stream it now, wherever you get your podcasts.
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