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Academic rigour, journalistic flair A child show their wrinkly fingers after being in water.

Karkacheva Anna/Shutterstock Why do my fingers go wrinkly in the bath? Published: June 9, 2026 7.42am BST https://theconversation.com/why-do-my-fingers-go-wrinkly-in-the-bath-284750 https://theconversation.com/why-do-my-fingers-go-wrinkly-in-the-bath-284750 Link copied Share article

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Have you ever stayed in the bath or swimming pool for ages and noticed that your fingers and toes went all wrinkly? Well, 11-year-old Maya from London wanted to know why that happens.

She joins our host Eloise to get the answer from biologist Tom Smulders on the first episode of season two of The Conversation’s Curious Kids podcast.

In each episode of The Conversation’s Curious Kids, a curious kid joins host Eloise to ask a top researcher their burning question. There’s an experiment in this episode which you can try out too while you listen. If you want to join in, prepare a bowl of warm water.

To listen to season two, follow us wherever you get your podcasts, or listen on the Yoto Player via the Discover section on the Yoto interactive audio platform for kids.

You can also listen back to season one and read lots of answers to questions sent in by children around the world in our Curious Kids series.

Got a question? Pop it in an email, or record it and send us the audio to [email protected].

This season of The Conversation’s Curious Kids is supported by the University of Southampton in the UK, a world-leading research-intensive university with a global network of international students and campuses in Malaysia and Delhi.

Disclosure statement

Tom Smulders does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Credits

This episode of The Conversation’s Curious Kids was hosted and mixed by Eloise Stevens. The producer was Katie Flood and the executive producer was Gemma Ware. Sounds of Marlin and Dory getting eaten by, and being inside a whale from Finding Nemo.