Hair has diverse functions and is vital in protecting various mammals. The hair structure is different for various mammals; for some animals like the javelina, hair is raised when it is in danger and becomes extra stiff whereas for others like the capybara it’s “twin structure” creates a “biconcave cross-section” to allow water to be removed from it easily. The diameter of hair also varies dramatically: (∼60 μm) in humans to ∼400 μm in giraffes and elephants. The scientists undergoing this study discovered that the tensile strength of hair increases with a decrease in its diameter. Yes, the thinner the hair, the stronger it is. While the general structure of the hair from different species tends to be similar, there are differences in the “hierarchical structure” that contribute to the observed differences in strength. This study is important because wool and human hair are important materials used in textile and hair care industries.
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