Listen "Nano Sharks"
Episode Synopsis
Think of a shark and you'll probably conjure up images of Jaws, but it turns out their skin is also covered in tiny teeth. Hannah and Dara investigate the incredible properties of these so-called dermal denticles, to find out whether they could be replicated at a nanoscale to increase vehicle speeds. They learn that while sharks might look like they have beautifully sleek surfaces, up close their skin is covered in something extremely rough and textured, a property that helps them swim up to 12 percent faster. And it's already inspiring airlines to design ultra-thin films that can reduce drag and increase efficiency.ContributorsDr Jess Wade
Professor Manish TiwariProducer: Marijke Peters
Executive Producer: Sasha FeachemA BBC Studios Audio Production
Professor Manish TiwariProducer: Marijke Peters
Executive Producer: Sasha FeachemA BBC Studios Audio Production
More episodes of the podcast Curious Cases
Frosty Fractals
02/01/2026
Mining for Gold (GOLD!)
31/12/2025
Phantom Pain
19/12/2025
Tortoise Tomfoolery
12/12/2025
Planetary Wobble
05/12/2025
Immortal Jellies
28/11/2025
Mysteries from the Final Frontier
21/11/2025
Beam Me Up, Scotty!
14/11/2025
Going Viral
07/11/2025
We Didn't Start the Fire
31/10/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.