Everyone thinks that they know what fingerprints are for: to improve your grip's friction. But it turns out that this urban myth is wrong. Scientists have proved that instead of improving your grip, ...

You’ve had your own personal set of fingerprints since before you were born, and they’ll be with you throughout your whole ...

QUESTION: Why don’t we have the same fingerprints as other people? ANSWER: When trying to answer this question, we should first take a look at the concept of a fingerprint. A fingerprint is an ...

Co-author Mike Adams, Professor in Product Engineering and Manufacturing, at the University of Birmingham commented: "Primates have evolved epidermal ridges on their hands and feet. During contact ...

Why do humans, other primates and koalas have fingerprints? All are, or have ancestors who were, tree dwellers, and it has been generally accepted that fingerprints help individuals grab onto things ...

The bumpy ridges on the tips of our fingers are an evolutionary mystery. Scientists have long reasoned that fingerprints help humans grip objects by creating friction, since a few primates and ...

Fingerprints mark us out as individuals and leave telltale signs of our presence on every object that we touch, but what are fingerprints really for? According to Roland Ennos, from the University of ...

Fingerprints help to increase friction when in contact with smooth surfaces, boost grip on rough surfaces and enhance tactile sensitivity. Their moisture-regulating mechanism ensures the best possible ...