Friday, February 15, 2013

Science gets it wrong and corrects.


Science doesn’t always get it right. Correct that is. But, when Science discovers the error, mostly there isn’t a cover-up. Unlike belief-based “knowledge” where errors in assertion are usually met with a denial of the error and a reaffirmation of the erroneous belief. The Church and Galileo for example.
So, when I discovered that for 40 years I have been teaching as fact the reason hands and feet wrinkle when they get wet is NOT because the epidermis there absorbs water and swells I was surprised. And then motivated to set the record straight for all my former students who read my stuff and the rest of you who were no doubt told the same thing. See, we actually thought that was the correct mechanism. WRONG. The answer is this: In order to grip wet surfaces, when the nervous system detects such a surface the blood supply to the epidermis of the gripping surfaces (finger and toe pads and somewhat palms of the hands and feet) which in turn makes the surface wrinkle, thereby increasing the surface area for gripping. A simple adaption (this is evolution folks) to climbing around in wet places and/or gripping wet or damp things.

Now you know.
Image: Hand; http://www.dreamstime.com/wrinkled-fingers-thumb434852.jpg

Image: Foot; http://www.sciencebob.com/images/wrinkled_toes.gif

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