可可电台，每期节目一话题，让英语磨练耳朵的同时学到更多有益的小知识，丰富知识的同时受益于生活。

Why do we have fingerprints?

我们为什么有指纹？

Many experts think it's to improve grip, but a British study from a few years back suggests otherwise.

有的专家认为这会增加在抓取时手上的摩擦力，但最近几年英国的调查显示并非如此。

Researchers found that a fingerprint's ridges actually madeit harder to hold flat, smooth surfaces, like Plexiglas, because they reduced the skin’s contact area.

研究者发现指纹的脊状反而使人们难抓平滑的表面，比如树脂玻璃，因为指纹减少了皮肤的接触面积。

Instead, they think our prints might help wick water off our fingertips or allow our skin to stretch more easily, which can protect it from damage and help prevent blisters.

他们反倒认为指纹有可能是能防止指尖的水分流失，或使得我们皮肤更易吸收水分，从而保护皮肤防止起水泡。

Other scientists have suggested fingerprints could improve our sense of touch.

其他科学家还认为指纹能提高我们的触觉。

What we do know for sure is that no two people's fingerprints are the same, even among identical twins.

目前我们确切知道的是：每个人的指纹都与其他人的不同，就算是双胞胎也如此。

【知识点】

fingerprints指纹

plexiglas树脂玻璃

identical完全相同的