Fin-tastic

[TedN]

Kudos to Bridgestone (http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=69823)

Ted

:thumbup:

[oddlycalm]

Update just in -
Bridgestone announced today that it sees a huge future in the market for prosthetic fins for aquatic mammals and fish, and a Bridgestone representative pointed that there "plenty of fish in the sea." When asked about what type of payment Bridgestone would recieve the spokesman looked puzzled and indicated the company will have future announcement as the program progresses...

oc

[pchall]

Formula One is not only interesting because of the sport, but also for saving lives on the road, and since a while in the sea too. In Fuji a 34-year old dolphin has received a prosthetic rail fin developed by Bridgestone with Formula One material.

The dolphin lost 75% of her own fin to disease, but thanks to a $95,000 prosthetic fin she's jumping again. "Ten prototypes were made before the company found one that worked, and it then took Fuji five months to get used to the fin - it initially scared her," says the BBC.

"Fuji only wears the fin, which weighs about 2kg (5 pounds), for about 20 minutes a day in case it falls off or is eaten by other dolphins."

Masaya Kowami, a breeder at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in southern Japan, is quoted as saying, "We are very grateful. Although she can swim without the artificial fin, the speed is very slow and she certainly cannot jump without it."

The fin is made from material usually used for Formula One race car tyres, says the Beeb, adding, "Sponge rubber was used for the parts which come into direct contact with Fuji's skin."

Way too cool. Now, if they would only give up whale nuts as a delicacy, or learn how to make them out F1 materials and tofu.