How do our fingerprint ridges optimize grip? 

In this episode, I feature a paper by Yum and colleagues who demonstrated that optimizing grip requires managing the moisture levels in our finger pads. This is the mechanism through which we are able to perform many of our day-to-day activities like playing sports and even eating.

Full citation:

Yum SM, Baek IK, Hong D, Kim J, Jung K, Kim S, Eom K, Jang J, Kim S, Sattorov M, Lee MG. Fingerprint ridges allow primates to regulate grip. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2020 Dec 15;117(50):31665-73.