Science Friday

A Theatrical Tribute To Unexpected Science

Dec 5, 2024
Mark Abrams, Editor of the Annals of Improbable Research and mastermind behind the Ig Nobel Prizes, shares the joy of celebrating quirky science. They discuss hilarious award winners, including studies on coin flipping and the movements of a dead trout. The theatrical highlights from the awards showcase the humorous side of research, from plants mimicking plastic to mammals breathing through their anus. Abrams emphasizes how laughter can enhance learning, making even the most bizarre studies captivating and entertaining.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Pigeon-Guided Missiles

  • The Ig Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to B.F. Skinner for exploring the use of pigeons to guide missiles.
  • His daughter, Julie Skinner Vargas, accepted the award on his behalf.
ANECDOTE

Hair Swirl Directions

  • Marjolaine Willems and colleagues won the Anatomy Prize for studying hair swirl direction in different hemispheres.
  • Their research began with an observation of Willems' twin daughters.
ANECDOTE

Plants Mimicking Plastic

  • Jacob White and Felipe Yamashita won a Botany Prize for their research on a plant mimicking plastic leaves.
  • They believe the plant might have a sort of "eye."
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app