“Sharks’ Skin, who invented it?”

Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 10, Verse 31: “Of purifiers I am the wind; of the wielders of weapons I am Rama; of fishes I am the shark, and of flowing rivers I am the Ganges. ”

SHARKS' SKIN

SHARKS' SKIN

Wikipedia: Shark skin is covered in denticles, and can therefore be as rough as sandpaper; some societies have in fact used it as such for many years. Most point backward, so stroking a shark from head to tail produces a smooth feeling. However, stroking the skin in the opposite direction reveals the rough texture. An exception is the Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus), which is unique amongst sharks in having denticles which point in all directions, rather than uniformly towards the tail. Sharks have been observed to use their skin to inflict wounds on prey.

Scientists have figured out a way to capitalize on shark skin – specifically on the way parasites and bacteria can’t stick to sharks. The trick is in the pattern of the skin’s surface.

Studies have found that the denticles create tiny vortices that reduce drag to make swimming more efficient. Denticles also allow sharks to swim silently compared to other fish that generate considerable noise when they ply the water. Another important factor is  that this arrangement protects their skin from damage and parasites.

Sharks are one of the oldest creatures on the planet and they’ve evolved to be essentially perfect in many ways. Their skin has also been inspiration for more aerodynamic cars and also famously for swimsuits for Olympic swimmers.

In Japan, traditional swordsmiths used shark skin for the hand-grips of swords, to make them less likely to slip in the hand. By applying the skin so that the denticles point toward the blade, the wielder will be able to quickly grip the sword even loosely and still get a grip.

Scanning electron microscope studies have revealed that tiny “teeth” cover the surface of a sharks’ skin that produce vertical vortices or spirals of water, keeping the water closer to the shark’s body and thus reducing drag. This phenomenon is known as the Riblet Effect, and research into shark skin is ongoing at NASA Langley Research Center.

Swimsuits made with new fibers and weaving techniques are produced to cling tightly to the swimmer’s body and reduce drag as much as possible. Research has shown that such garments can reduce drag by 8% over ordinary swimsuits.
What do you think, could sharks’ skin develop by chance or does it point to a designer?

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