2019's 'Ig Nobel' Prizes Honor Strange, Unusual, and Hilarious Research (cnn.com) 17
CNN reports:
Pizza might protect against cancer, why wombats poop in cubes and a diaper changing machine that can be used on human babies -- these are just some of the research and inventions awarded at this year's Ig Nobel Prizes, a spoof of the actual Nobel Prize awards. The Ig Nobels are "intended to celebrate the unusual, honor the imaginative -- and spur people's interest in science, medicine, and technology," according to its website.
Even if the science does sound, well, hilarious.
Organized by the magazine Annals of Improbable Research, the awards have been going on for 29 years, always celebrated in September with a gala held at Harvard University. Winners accept their prizes from "genuinely bemused genuine Nobel Laureates," the website reads.
Long-time Slashdot reader LifesABeach shared a link to that wacky two-hour prize ceremony on YouTube. You can also read the list of 2019's winners on the official web site.
And today, most of this year's Ig Nobel winners also gave free public talks at MIT.
Even if the science does sound, well, hilarious.
Organized by the magazine Annals of Improbable Research, the awards have been going on for 29 years, always celebrated in September with a gala held at Harvard University. Winners accept their prizes from "genuinely bemused genuine Nobel Laureates," the website reads.
Long-time Slashdot reader LifesABeach shared a link to that wacky two-hour prize ceremony on YouTube. You can also read the list of 2019's winners on the official web site.
And today, most of this year's Ig Nobel winners also gave free public talks at MIT.
Next Step (Score:2)
Combine them by feeding diaper-wearing wombats pizza to gather more data.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
No, it still has to have some scientific merit, making shit up doesn't cut it.
Re: (Score:2)
Because the peace prize is like the participation trophy of the Nobel Prizes. You know, the one that the teacher's pet gets, or the kid of those parents that donated the most to the school.
awarded for (summary list): (Score:5, Informative)
for collecting evidence that pizza might protect against illness and death, if the pizza is made and eaten in Italy.
for using a simple animal-training technique— called “clicker training” —to train surgeons to perform orthopedic surgery.
for discovering that dead magnetized cockroaches behave differently than living magnetized cockroaches.
for measuring scrotal temperature asymmetry in naked and clothed postmen in France.
for estimating the total saliva volume produced per day by a typical five-year-old child
for inventing a diaper-changing machine for use on human infants.
for testing which country’s paper money is best at transmitting dangerous bacteria.
for trying to measure the pleasurability of scratching an itch.
for discovering that holding a pen in one’s mouth makes one smile, which makes one happier — and for then discovering that it does not.
for studying how, and why, wombats make cube-shaped poo.
Re: (Score:1)
for collecting evidence that pizza might protect against illness and death, if the pizza is made and eaten in Italy.
So, they were hoping to get some kind of research grant to go eat pizza? Nice gig if you can get it.
for using a simple animal-training technique— called “clicker training” —to train surgeons to perform orthopedic surgery.
The resulting surgeons were slower to learn but more accurate when the training is complete. And, in surgery, accuracy is everything. Odd though it sounds, this one is actually quite solid.
for inventing a diaper-changing machine for use on human infants.
Uhh, where can I get one of those?
for testing which country’s paper money is best at transmitting dangerous bacteria.
Polymer-based notes were best at holding, and transmitting, said bacteria. The US Dollar was only good and holding / transmitting MRSA. That's news I can use.
for studying how, and why, wombats make cube-shaped poo.
A critter which, rathe
Every time I wonder... (Score:5, Insightful)
Every year, I read the list of laureates with delight. It's quirky, witty, bizarre and yet somewhat interesting. But what many fail to see, and what the actual accomplishment is in my opinion: They managed to secure funding to research THAT!
THAT is the actual feat if you ask me.
Re: (Score:2, Flamebait)
I'm not particularly bothered by someone getting funding for stupid-sounding research. I mean, if it's funded by a private grant, then it's the prerogative of whoever's paying the bill. And if it's public funding then I'd rather see $50k of taxpayer money going to fund some study that may or may not have any social value in the future than see $340 MILLION of taxpayer money pay for some soggy-brained fat degenerate's golf outings. But that's just me.
https:/ [forbes.com]
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Please explain.
Re: (Score:2)
This is not a representative survey of the ridiculous grants in the same way that the winner of the spelling bee isn't representative of the students.
Awards handed out by Nobel prize laureates (Score:2)
Do note, the stage is full of real Nobel Prize laureates handing out the Ig Nobel prizes to these winners.
Today, the world is a better place (Score:1)
Today, I learned that wombats have cube-shaped poo.
This is wondrous and amazing! The world is a better place for this.
diaper-changing machine for use on human infants (Score:1)
Sounds like these inventors opted for disposable diapers, so I guess no pins stuck in babies here either.