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A new theory suggests that the wrinkles we develop on our fingers when wet may actually be an evolutionary adaptation to give us better grip in slippery conditions. Scientists have known since the mid-1930s that water wrinkles do not form if the nerves in a finger are severed, implying that they are controlled by the nervous system. Evolutionary neurobiologist, Mark Changizi, takes this idea a step further by proposing that our water wrinkles function like rain treads on tires. In dry conditions, racecars get the most traction with smooth, treadles soles. Treads are needed when the ground becomes more complex, especially when it is wet. Changizi proposes that our fingers create channels that allow water to drain away as we press our fingertips on to wet surfaces. This allows them to make greater contact with a wet surface, giving them a better grip. Our pruney treads appear only when they're needed, dynamically transforming from racecar smooth to wet-conditions wrinkley as the weather conditions warrant. I want that tech on my shoes.