The Advantages of Being Thin-Skinned

Thin, stretchy skin — like that of a pig or human — significantly lessens the underlying damage that occurs when it’s punctured. Pig skin even outperforms synthetic materials that are designed to mimic skin, a new study finds. Its special qualities, in particular its ability to dissipate the energy of a puncturing object, greatly reduce the damage to deeper tissues, researchers report.

Philip Anderson, a professor of evolution, ecology and behavior who led the study with postdoctoral researcher Bingyang Zhang at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is fascinated by how the laws of physics influence evolution. This interest led to an exploration of the dynamics of puncturing objects, which are ubiquitous in nature.

[hodgelive]

All i’ve gotten from it was my feelings hurt