Lick stones, count nose hairs, examine boredom. Methodical, scientific – and curious.
Such scientific studies, which are intended to “first make you laugh and then make you think,” have been awarded “Ig Nobel Prizes” in the USA.
Legend:
Scientists demonstrate their sense of humor at galas like these.
Reuters/Brian Snyder/Archive
The flashy gala took place on Friday night as part of an online event. This was the 33rd time that fun prizes were awarded – according to the organizers, the aim was to “celebrate the unusual and honor the imaginative”.
“Ignobel” aka “unworthy”
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“Ig Nobel Prize”, pronounced “ignobel”, which translates roughly to “dishonorable”, “unworthy”. Also known as the “Anti-Nobel Prize”, a thoroughly satirical award.
Researchers from Poland and the USA received the prize in the “Chemistry and Geology” category for their research question as to why many scientists like to lick stones. Scientists from the USA, Canada, Iran and Vietnam used corpses to investigate whether people have the same number of hairs in both nostrils. Finally, researchers from China and Canada, for example, received a prize in the “Education” category. They methodically examined boredom among teachers and students.
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