Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: Pruney Skin
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Aug 7, 2024 The hosts dive into the intriguing phenomenon of pruney skin, sparked by a playful bathtub story. They explore its evolutionary advantages, suggesting that wrinkled skin enhances our grip in wet conditions. Delving deeper, they discuss the scientific aspects, revealing vasoconstriction as the key player rather than osmosis. While one host champions its practical purpose, the other raises doubts—leading to a lighthearted debate on whether this skin response is a clever survival tactic or just an amusing side effect.
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The Bath Incident
- Chuck's daughter stayed in the bath for over seven hours, playing with toys and listening to podcasts.
- Her hands were incredibly pruney afterward, prompting Chuck to investigate why skin prunes in water.
Not Osmosis, but Vasoconstriction
- Pruning is not caused by osmosis, as previously thought, but by vasoconstriction.
- Nerve damage prevents pruning, indicating nervous system involvement.
The Grip Theory
- The leading theory suggests pruney fingers improve grip on wet objects.
- A study found people with pruney fingers were 12% faster at picking up wet marbles.