• Question: Hello Marcel, have you discovered what organic compound on dolphin skins makes them so streamlined when they swim. Could that compound be useful for people setting world records for swimming?

    Asked by anon-285563 to Marcel on 5 Mar 2021.
    • Photo: Marcel Jaspars

      Marcel Jaspars answered on 5 Mar 2021:


      In fact, the pattern on sharkskin is used to make swimwear – it does something special with the boundary layer to prevent excess turbulence. More importantly making boat hulls more streamlined and preventing fouling (barnacles growing on boats) would reduce energy costs of marine transport massively. Scientists are looking at sharks and marine shells to do this.

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