The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry - The Hairy Hominid

Our science detectives answer the following perplexing problem, sent in by Hannah Monteith from Edinburgh in Scotland:

"How does leg hair know it has been cut? It doesn't seem to grow continuously but if you shave it, it somehow knows to grow back."

Hannah consults dermatologist Dr Susan Holmes, from the Hair Clinic at Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, to discover why the hairs on your legs don't grow as long as the hairs on your head.

Adam attempts to have a serious discussion about the evolutionary purpose of pubic hair with anatomist and broadcaster Prof Alice Roberts.

If you have a scientific mystery for the team to investigate, please email: curiouscases@bbc.co.uk

Presenters: Hannah Fry, Adam Rutherford
Producer: Michelle Martin.

Published on Monday, 30th May 2016.

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