The Ig Nobel Prize is a humorous counterpart to the Nobel Prize, established in 1991. It is awarded annually to highlight extraordinary or quirky contributions to science, celebrating work that initially elicits laughter and then provokes thought.
This prize covers a broad range of unconventional research, from the curious exploration of objects people place in unusual places, to the study of chimpanzees’ attitudes toward these objects, and even the psychological benefits of flatulence.
But the Ig Nobel Prize doesn’t stop there; it also honours unique studies such as the impact of Viagra on hamsters recovering from jet lag.
Keep reading to dive into the fascinating and often amusing world of Ig Nobel Prize winners and their groundbreaking yet unconventional discoveries.
Not Too Shabby for a Bunch of Eggheads.
In 2015, Colin Raston,Callum Ormonde, and a team of chemists won the Ig Nobel Prize for Chemistry for their inventive work on partially in-boiling an egg.
Their groundbreaking paper, titled “Shear Stress-Mediated Refolding of Proteins from Aggregates and Inclusion Bodies,” essentially describes their method for turning a cooked egg back into a runny state. This quirky achievement is especially handy for those who frequently overcook their breakfasts.
You Know What They Say About Guys With Big Feet.
In 1998, the Ig Nobel Prize in Statistics was awarded to Jerald Bain of Mt. Sinai Hospital in Toronto and Kerry Siminoski of the University of Alberta for their research, “The Relationship Among Height, Penile Length, and Foot Size.” Their study examined the statistical connections between these physical traits. While they did find a slight statistical link between penile length and height, they concluded that foot size is not a reliable predictor of penile size.
The More You Toot, The Better You Feel.
Ig Nobel Prize for Literature in The 1996 went to Mara Sidoli for her intriguing paper, “Farting as a Defence Against Unspeakable Dread.” The study explores the case of a young child who, after being removed from his mother’s care at just two months old due to dire circumstances,
used his bodily odours and flatulence as a psychological shield. Sidoli suggests that the child created a protective “cloud” of familiar smells to help him cope with the overwhelming sense of dread and to maintain his sense of self.
What What In The Butt”
In 1995, David B. Busch and James R. Starling were awarded the Ig Nobel Prize for Literature for their paper titled “Rectal Foreign Bodies: Case Reports & a Comprehensive Review of the World’s Literature.”
Their research explores the curious phenomenon of people inserting unusual objects into their rectums, documenting everything from light bulbs and knife sharpeners to fruits,
vegetables, and even a frozen pig’s tail. This intriguing study reveals the wide array of items that have found their way into unexpected places. Stick around to discover a particularly unusual case involving goat cosplay.
Mmmm… Doughnuts.
In 2008, Steve Penfold, a Ph.D. candidate at York University in Toronto, received the Ig Nobel Prize in Sociology for his brilliant thesis on the history of Canadian doughnut shops. Penfold’s research, which was published as a book, delves into how a simple,
fried, glazed doughnut has come to represent Canadian identity. It’s a deliciously unique perspective on how food can shape and symbolise cultural heritage. If only all history classes could be this flavorful!
Itchy and Scratchy.
In 2016, Christoph Helmchen was honoured with the Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine for his intriguing discovery: to alleviate an itch on one side of your body, you can look into a mirror and scratch the opposite side.
For instance, if you have an itch on your left side, scratching your right side while observing the reflection can provide relief, and vice versa.
To explore this phenomenon, twenty-six right-handed male volunteers were injected with an itch-inducing agent in either their left or right forearm. Lab technicians then scratched various parts of their bodies, and the volunteers assessed their itchiness using a highly scientific scale.
If I Could Walk With The Animals.
In the same year, Thomas Thwaites received the Ig Nobel Prize in Biology for his inventive project involving prosthetic limb extensions that mimic the movement of a goat. These prosthetics allowed Thwaites to interact closely with goats and gain insights into their behaviour.
To fully immerse himself in the goat experience, he even ate grass using an artificial rumen. Thwaites documented his extraordinary journey in his book, GoatMan: How I Took A Holiday From Being Human.
Thank Scientists for Blue Jell-O.
In 1992, Ivette Bassa earned the Ig Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her work in creating the vibrant blue hue of Jell-O. General Foods celebrated her achievement by sending her to the ceremony on a private jet, accompanied by a team of jelly scientists clad in bright blue lab coats.
At the reception, blue Jell-O was, naturally, served. Thanks to Ivette, blue has become the most iconic Jell-O flavour. Keep reading to discover a study about a pregnant woman’s centre of gravity.
Chimps Know a Butt When They See One.
The 2012 Ig Nobel Prize brought a fascinating discovery in the Anatomy category. Frans de Waal and Jennifer Pokorny were honoured for their research showing that chimpanzees can recognize other chimps by their rear ends.
In the study, six adult chimps were trained to play a computer game where they matched images of chimpanzee faces with their corresponding behinds. The chimps were rewarded for correct matches, which they achieved when they were familiar with the chimpanzee in the images.
Up, Up, and Away.
In 2007 , Santiago A. Plano, Patricia V. Agostino and Diego A. Golombek received the Ig Nobel Prize in Aviation for their intriguing discovery: hamsters recover from jetlag faster when given Viagra. While the science behind this involves the interplay of Viagra’s chemicals with circadian rhythms complex concepts that might require a degree to fully grasp the question remains:
Did the researchers actually take a group of hamsters on a global tour, or did they simulate travel by altering light exposure? One can’t help but imagine a grand hamster adventure.
The Physics of Pregnancy.
In 2009, a team of American researchers was proudly awarded the Ig Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on why pregnant women don’t simply tip over. Their study, titled “Foetal Load and the Evolution of Lumbar Lordosis in Bipedal Hominins,” explored how human bodies have adapted to support pregnancy.
In simpler terms, the study examined how women manage to stay upright despite the added weight of pregnancy. It turns out that our spines and hips are specifically designed to handle this load, even though the process might seem a bit front-heavy.
The Truth Behind the Five-Second Rule.
Ig Nobel Prize in Public Health was awarded to Jillian Clarke from the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences for her research on the “five-second rule.”In 2004 Remarkably, Clarke was only 17 years old when she conducted this study.
She tested various foods, floor surfaces, and textures to determine how quickly bacteria transfer to dropped food. Her findings revealed that while a very clean floor might offer some protection, bacteria can transfer to food in less than five seconds in most cases.
The Spaghetti Breakage Mystery.
In 2006, Basile Audoly and Sebastien Neukirch from the Université Pierre et Marie Curie received the Ig Nobel Prize in Physics for their investigation into why uncooked spaghetti breaks into multiple pieces when bent. Their research delved into the dynamics of bent rods and found that when thin, brittle materials like dry spaghetti are bent past a certain point,
they often snap into three or four pieces. The study revealed that the sudden release of curvature at one end of the rod generates flexural waves, causing multiple breaks. Their findings are described by a self-similar solution with no adjustable parameters.
Graffiti Gone Wrong.
In 1992, Éclaireurs de France, French Scouting organisation, received the Ig Nobel Prize in Archaeology. Their well-intentioned attempt to clean what they believed was graffiti inadvertently damaged 2 prehistoric bison paintings Mayrière supérieure near Bruniquel, France. Their misadventure proved that sometimes, even acts of anti-vandalism can end up being recognized—though perhaps not in the way they anticipated.
The Definitive Tea Manual.
The Ig Nobel Prize for Literature was produly awarded to the British Standards Institution for their six-page manual on brewing the perfect cup of tea In 1999. This detailed guide covers everything from the ideal teapot material and size to the precise water-to-tea ratio, steeping time, and the optimal temperature for both tea and milk. The manual even specifies that tea should be brewed for exactly six minutes because apparently, precision matters.
Bug Identification for Car Owners.
The 1997 Ig Nobel Prize in Entomology went to Mark Hostetler of the University of Florida for his book, That Gunk on Your Car. This 144-page guide helps readers identify insect splats on their windshields, offering insights into the life cycles of the insects and what became of them. Surprisingly, this book has proven quite popular among kids—presumably because they find insect remnants fascinating.
Prozac for Clams.
The Ig Nobel Prize in Biology was awarded to Peter Fong from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for his unique study on clams and Prozac In 1998.Fong’s research suggested that giving clams Prozac, an SSRI, led to increased reproduction, implying that the clams were happier. While the science might be complex, Fong’s conclusion that Prozac made clams “happy” adds an intriguing twist to our understanding of marine life.
Cats: Liquid or Solid?.
Marc-Antoine Fardin won the Ig Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017 for exploring whether cats can be classified as both liquid and solid. Drawing on a Bored Panda article titled “Cats Are Liquids,” Fardin used scientific principles to support this theory, comparing cats to Silly Putty due to their extreme ability to conform to the shape of their containers. His research humorously bridges the gap between science and everyday observations.
The Science of Stinky Feet.
In 1992, researchers in Yokohama, Japan were honoured with the Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine for their study on foot odour. Their findings were straightforward: people who believe they have foot odour usually do, while those who don’t think they have it generally don’t. It’s a simple conclusion, but it highlights an essential aspect of self-perception and the science behind it. One can only imagine the sensory experiences of those involved in the research.
When Zippers Strike.
In 1993,a team of researchers led by James F. Nolan was awarded the Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine for their study titled, “Acute Management of the Zipper-Entrapped Penis.” Their abstract outlines a painful and somewhat embarrassing problem: a zipper-entrapped penis. The paper describes a straightforward and minimally traumatic approach to resolving this issue, emphasising that excessive intervention can exacerbate the situation for both the patient and the healthcare provider. Clearly, this was a study that addressed a unique and necessary area of medical concern.
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