First published Make people laugh, then make them think. That is the spirit of the Ig Nobel Prize, an annual event that celebrates some of the world’s most unusual scientific research. Organized by Improbable Research since 1991, the awards parody the Nobel Prize while highlighting studies that are humorous, surprising, and genuinely useful for understanding the world.
This year’s ceremony, held in Zurich, Switzerland, honored 10 research projects. The winners explored everything from the scientific definition of a kiss and the best way to blow your nose to cockroach milk, snake bites, urinal splash prevention, and soil-testing underwear.
Biomechanics Prize: Scientists define what counts as a kiss
What exactly is a kiss? One team of researchers set out to create a scientific definition that could apply across the animal kingdom, not just to humans. They describe kissing as “a non-painful interaction involving directional intraspecies mouth-to-mouth contact with some movement of the lips or oral structures and without food transfer.”
Under this definition, kissing animals may include other great apes, pigeons, penguins, squirrels, black bears, turtles, domestic dogs, and cats. Of course, a kiss does not necessarily carry the same meaning for every species.
Economics Prize: Higher social status may encourage unethical behavior
The study “Higher Social Class Predicts Increased Unethical Behavior,” published in PNAS, examined whether socioeconomic status was linked to actions such as breaking traffic rules, failing to yield, cheating, and even taking candy from children.
Across seven experiments, the researchers found that people from higher social classes were, on average, more likely to prioritize their own interests. In other words, greater wealth may come with greater opportunities—and, according to this research, more temptation to bend the rules.
Chemistry Prize: Cockroach milk is packed with nutrients
The future of nutrition may involve insects. In this case, researchers studied a highly nutritious, milk-like substance produced by the Pacific beetle cockroach, Diploptera punctata.
The substance contains concentrated proteins, fats, and sugars, making it an unusually energy-dense food source. Scientists analyzed crystals that form inside cockroach embryos to understand how they store such large amounts of nutrients in a remarkably small space.
Medical Prize: The science-backed way to blow your nose
This may be one of the most relatable studies recognized by the Ig Nobel Prize. The award was given posthumously to Tokuji Unno, a scientist who spent his later years studying how people should blow their noses.
His research examined factors including airflow, nasal breathing, and pressure in the ears. The recommendation is to blow one nostril at a time when congestion is uneven, using a long and relatively forceful exhalation instead of several short, weak blows.
Biology Prize: Stepping on a snake can trigger a defensive bite
To study what causes snakes to bite defensively, researchers applied controlled pressure to different parts of the animals’ bodies. They observed Bothrops jararaca, a highly venomous pit viper native to South America, while wearing protective boots and stepping on different areas of the snakes.
The results were clear: stepping on the head produced a 44 percent chance of being bitten, while pressure on the body caused defensive reactions about 20 percent of the time. The tail was associated with the lowest risk, at 11 percent. Still, the safest advice is simple: do not step on a snake.
Physics Prize: The ideal angle can prevent urinal splashes
Mathematical models have identified an optimal angle for liquid to hit a urinal while producing fewer rebound droplets. Researchers found that lower impact angles significantly reduce splashback and used the finding to design a prototype urinal.
The practical goal is more hygienic public restrooms—and fewer unwanted droplets on floors, shoes, and clothing.
Technology Prize: Mosquito mouthparts could improve 3D printing
The intricate mouthparts of a mosquito may offer an elegant solution for precision manufacturing. A mosquito’s proboscis functions like an extremely thin needle, while a 3D printer nozzle is essentially a microscopic tube.
Rather than designing every component from scratch, researchers looked to evolution for inspiration. The mosquito’s highly refined feeding structure could help scientists develop smaller, more precise nozzles for 3D printers and other instruments.
Smell Prize: Babies smell better than teenagers
Science has confirmed what many parents already suspect: children’s body odor becomes less appealing during adolescence. Researchers asked parents to evaluate the smell of their children at different ages and found that odors from young children were rated more favorably than those from teenagers.
The findings suggest that smell may play an overlooked role in family communication, helping parents recognize their children and strengthening the bond between them.
Peace Prize: The ideal friend may be kind to you—and tough on your enemies
What qualities do people want in a best friend? Researchers surveyed participants about how friends should treat them, strangers, and enemies.
Most people preferred friends who were kind and supportive toward them but harsh toward their enemies. The results suggest that an ideal friend is not necessarily a universally kind person; instead, loyalty and selective compassion may matter more.
Soil Science Prize: Buried underwear can measure soil health
Approximately 1,000 participants buried cotton underwear and later retrieved the garments to see how much fabric had decomposed. The experiment produced what researchers call the “underwear index.”
The more holes that appeared, the more biologically active the soil was. Soil microorganisms break down cellulose, a natural material found in plant cell walls, and their activity is an important indicator of healthy farmland. In this low-tech test, an old pair of underwear can reveal how active the soil beneath it really is.
You can watch the complete Ig Nobel Prize ceremony online.
This story was originally published in the Spanish edition of WIRED and translated from Spanish.
Source: www.wired.com