# 3D-Printed Shark Skin Scientists Are Developing Artificial Shark Skin to Reduce Swimming Drag By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2014-05-23 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shark-skin References: [gizmodo](http://gizmodo.com/this-is-the-closest-weve-ever-come-to-recreating-shark-1579753665) & [journals.biologists](https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/217/10/1637/13889/Elephant-seals-CO-as-high-as-heavy-human-smokers) Shark skin is the envy of [swimsuit wearers and designers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/surface-athletic) because of its sleek texture and dragless characteristics, which allow sharks to propel themselves through the water at speed like it's nobody's business. Up close however, shark skin looks like a strange matrix of micro-sized tooth-shaped scales. Scientists are now [3D printing replica shark skin](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3dprinting-resin) to assist swimmers. [Harvard](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wyss-institute) professor George Lauber and his team began by scanning a piece of mako shark skin bought from a local fish market. They then spent a year figuring out how to recreate it in a lab. The end result is a flexible artificial sharp skin embedded with the tooth-shaped scales -- called 'denticles' -- that cover real shark skin. The 3D-printed denticles are nowhere near the size of the real thing, but the shark skin still worked. At low speeds, it reduced drag by up to 8.7%. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.6/10 - Popularity: 54% | Activity: 46% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Science](https://www.trendhunter.com/science) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **3d-printed Shark Skin:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Advancing the field of biomimicry by creating artificial materials with drag-reducing properties. - **Biomimicry:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Applying design principles inspired by nature to improve the performance and efficiency of various industries. - **Drag Reduction Technology:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing new technologies to minimize drag and enhance the speed and efficiency of transportation systems. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Sportswear and Swimwear:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrating 3D-printed shark skin technology into swimwear to enhance performance and reduce drag for swimmers. - **Biomedical Engineering:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Applying the principles of shark skin texture to develop artificial materials for biomedical applications, such as prosthetics and implants, that reduce friction and improve mobility. - **Marine Transportation:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporating drag reduction technologies inspired by shark skin into ship designs to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Underwater Jetpack Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kikfin.md) - [3D-Printed Shrimps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-printed-shrimp.md) - [Aquatic Shark-Inspired Drones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/waterborne-drone.md) - [Adaptive Swim Prosthetics](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-nimble.md) - [Bio-Printed Fish Fillets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cultivated-fish-fillet.md) - [3D-Printed Eel Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-printed-eel.md) - [Underwater Concrete Printing Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/darpa-1.md) - [Sustainable Ocean Waste Swimwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ocean-flex.md) - [Eco-Friendly 3D-Printed Surfboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paradoxal-surfboards.md)