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.
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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.
question_answer 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.
question_answer 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."
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In this book, B.F. Skinner argues that the entrenched belief in free will and the moral autonomy of the individual (referred to as 'dignity') hinders the prospect of using scientific methods to modify behavior. Skinner advocates for a radically behaviorist approach, suggesting that instead of promoting freedom and dignity as personal attributes, we should focus on changing the physical and social environments in which people live. He rejects traditional explanations of behavior in favor of explanations based on the interaction between genetic endowment and personal history, and argues against punishment as an ineffective measure of controlling behavior[1][2][4].
Verbal Behavior
B.F. Skinner
In 'Verbal Behavior,' B.F. Skinner presents a detailed functional analysis of verbal behavior, arguing that it can be understood through the principles of operant conditioning. The book, which took over twenty years to complete, was prompted by a challenge from philosopher Alfred North Whitehead to explain verbal behavior within a behaviorist framework. Skinner introduces several key concepts, including mands, tacts, autoclitics, and other operants, to describe how verbal behavior is controlled by environmental factors such as stimuli and reinforcement. He illustrates his thesis with examples from literature, the arts, and sciences, as well as from his own experiences and those of his colleagues and children. The book is divided into five parts and nineteen chapters, providing a thorough examination of verbal behavior without reference to hypothetical mental structures[1][3][4].
Walden Two
B.F. Skinner
Published in 1948, 'Walden Two' is a utopian novel written by B.F. Skinner. The story follows Professor Burris and two young men who visit a community called Walden Two, founded by T.E. Frazier. This community operates on principles of behavioral modification, where members are conditioned from an early age to be productive and happy. The community is egalitarian, with a minimal workday, no wages, and a focus on education, entertainment, and communal living. The novel discusses various intellectual topics such as behavioral modification, political ethics, and the common good, highlighting the experimental and adaptive nature of the community's social and economic structures[2][4][5].
The Ig Nobel awards are a salute to achievements that, in the words of the organizers, “make people laugh, then think.” Each year, the editors of the science humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research choose 10 lucky(?) winners who have unusual achievements in science, medicine, and other fields. This year’s awards were presented in a theatrical extravaganza in an MIT lecture hall in September.
They included awards for studying coin flipping (including hundreds of thousands of real coin flips), the movements of a dead trout, and an opera about Murphy’s Law. In a Science Friday holiday tradition, Ira hosts an hour of highlights from the ceremony.
Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com.