The annual Ig Nobel Awards, known for honoring scientific achievements that make people laugh, yet also spark thought-provoking ideas, have once again recognized the quirky side of science. The 23rd edition of the awards was recently held in an online ceremony, where real Nobel prize winners, donning silly hats, presented the prizes to the deserving recipients. The theme of this year’s ceremony revolved around water, with a new mini-non-opera about water making its debut.
Produced by the science humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research, the Ig Nobel prizes celebrate the unconventional and curious aspects of scientific exploration. Here are ten of this year’s winners:
1. Rock lickers: Jan Zalasiewicz from the University of Leicester in the UK was awarded the chemistry and geology Ig Nobel for his work explaining why many scientists have a penchant for licking rocks. Zalasiewicz discovered that 18th-century geologists used the taste of rocks to help identify them, a skill that has mostly been lost today.
2. Repeating a word to meaninglessness: An international team of researchers received the literature Ig Nobel for their study on the sensations experienced when a single word is repeated numerous times. Through their investigation, they discovered that repeating a word can create a sense of unfamiliarity with something familiar, a phenomenon known as jamais vu.
3. Reanimated spider claw machine: U.S. researchers from Rice University in Texas were awarded the mechanical engineering Ig Nobel for their work in reanimating dead wolf spiders and using them as mechanical gripping tools. They showcased the field of necrobotics, demonstrating how parts of animals can serve as components in robots.
The Ig Nobel Awards continue to shed light on fascinating and unconventional scientific endeavors that capture our imagination. These achievements may seem eccentric at first glance, but they push the boundaries of what is possible and inspire further exploration. As real Nobel laureates hand out the Ig Nobel prizes, it is evident that these awards have become a beloved tradition within the scientific community.
