Researchers have been awarded the Ig Nobel prize for their study investigating the effectiveness of painting cows with stripes as a method to deter fly bites.
The 35th annual Ig Nobel prize ceremony, organized by the Annals of Improbable Research, brought together an eclectic mix of researchers and Nobel laureates to celebrate the unusual and comical side of scientific discovery.
In Klosterneuburg, Austria, a team of researchers from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) and their Italian and Spanish collaborators won the Ig Nobel Prize for their study on the physics of pasta sauce. The ceremony also honoured a group of Japanese researchers who painted cows with zebra-like stripes to deter flies, and a researcher from Colombia, Francisco Sanchez, who studied the effects of alcohol on bats.
Sanchez, who conducted his research at the University of Antioquia, expressed gratitude for winning the prestigious award. His study found that when bats were forced to eat rotten fruit, often with higher concentrations of alcohol, their flying and echolocation suffered, mirroring the effects of alcohol on human behaviour.
The ceremony was filled with quirky moments, such as a researcher dressed as a big ball of mozzarella cheese being pummeled by several people holding wooden cookware, and one of the researchers accepting the award wearing a cook's outfit with a fake mustache. The audience traditionally pelts the stage with paper airplanes during the ceremony, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Several speeches at the ceremony were read by actual Nobel laureates, including Esther Duflo. A mini-opera about gastroenterologists and their patients was performed, inspired by this year's theme of digestion. The audience sang about the challenges of treating stomach bugs and being feted by patients who bring them pizza and chili dogs.
One of the more unusual studies honoured was a group of researchers from India who studied whether foul-smelling shoes influenced someone's experience using a shoe rack. Another study explored whether eating Teflon is a good way to increase food volume.
The Ig Nobel Prize is a hand-made model of a human stomach awarded for comical scientific achievement, and winners also receive a single hand wipe. The ceremony ended on a humorous note as the European researchers handed out bowls of pasta to the Nobel laureates.
Despite the light-hearted nature of the ceremony, the Ig Nobel Prizes honour discoveries that initially seem laughable but may later prove to be significant. The winners of this year's ceremony will hopefully continue to push the boundaries of scientific research and inspire future generations.
Read also:
- Overweight women undergoing IVF have a 47% higher chance of conceiving naturally post-weight loss
- Bonsai Trees from Evergreen Species: Exploring Growth Characteristics & Distinct Qualities
- What temperatures may make walking your canine companion uncomfortable?
- Title: Information About Beovu: Potency, Form, Usage, and Additional Details
