The technology world lives and dies by the quality of R&D. Necessity may be the mother of invention, but researchers, beavering away in labs, are its foster father. Albeit, in some cases, slightly dubious foster fathers who are in it for the money.
Harvard University last night hosted the 2008 Ig Nobel awards, spoof awards that recognise genuine pieces of research that "cannot, or should not, be reproduced" - achievements that "first make people laugh, and then make them think".
This year's Ig Nobel winners, awarded by the Annals of Improbable Research magazine, are:
NUTRITION: Massimiliano Zampini and Charles Spence. They demonstrated that food tastes better when it sounds better. Great!
PEACE: Congratulations to the Swiss Federal Ethics Committee on Non-Human Biotechnology and the citizens of Switzerland. Why? They adopted the legal principle that plants have dignity.
ARCHAEOLOGY: Ever wondered if armadillos can scramble the contents of an archaeological dig? Wonder no more. Astolfo Gomes de Mello Araujo and Jose Carlos Marcelino have proved that they do.
BIOLOGY: Apparently, fleas that live on a dog can jump higher than fleas that live on a cat. And we wouldn't know this if it were not for Marie-Christine Cadiergues, Christel Joubert and Michel Franc.
MEDICINE: You know the placebo effect? It's expensive. Dan Ariely has scientifically shown that expensive fake medicine is more effective than cheap fake medicine. Get your wallet out.
COGNITIVE SCIENCE: Don't even think about feeling superior to slime. According to science, in the form of Toshiyuki Nakagaki, Hiroyasu Yamada, Ryo Kobayashi, Atsushi Tero, Akio Ishiguro and Agota Toth, slime moulds can solve puzzles. Really tough ones, too.
ECONOMICS: Geoffrey Miller, Joshua Tyber and Brent Jordan get this prestigious award for discovering that exotic dancers earn more when at peak fertility. So long as they don't make use of such fertility.
PHYSICS: Bundles of string or hair will inevitably tangle, right? Well, yes. Right. And now it's science fact. All thanks to Dorian Raymer and Douglas Smith.
CHEMISTRY: Two winners in this important category. Ever wondered if Coke is an effective spermicide? Course you have. Well, Sheree Umpierre, Joseph Hill and Deborah Anderson have learnt that Coca-Cola is an effective spermicide. Unfortunately, CY Hong, CC Shieh, P Wu and BN Chiang believe they've proud it isn't. Don't rely on it.
LITERATURE: The Ig Nobel award for literature is awarded to David Sims for his study "You Bastard: A Narrative Exploration of the Experience of Indignation within Organizations." Nuff said.
Comments
Matt Egan said: BrainBrian Kay spelling not a strong point - Ah Penny drops Clearly theres nothing wrong with a bit of mud slinging although I can imagine little duller than having nothing better to do all day than slag things off slag off things Good luck to you You think that PCA Blogs are crap and youre entitled to express your opinion Im entitled not to careUnless that is you can point out some substantive factual errors in this or any postingFinally Id argue that reviewing a graphics card takes a modicum of journalistic skill But what do I know
Brian Kay said: The point made was that the internet is there for folk to have fun and slag everything and anything off As in the film the victims receiving the shit reviews should accept it because thats what the internet is forWhich nicely brings one back to stop being so insular and vainIn reality PCA Blogs produces crap and so in turns deserves some thrown immediately straight backAnd one does get the picture that Bob Stopper created when he said These kids think they are journalists They should stick to reviewing graphics cardsNice one son
Matt Egan said: Brain Kay - Im sure your comment is hilarious but I dont collect Kevin Smith scripts Ive got a wife and a job and you know mates so I dont get the reference And Im not sure where you got your evidence for me being insular and vain but it is spookily prescient
Matt Egan said: Tony - entertainment information infotainment Sweetheart if our blogs offend close your eyes Read something else Relax Get some love in your life But hey youre welcomeBob Stopper - Where are the errors in either our blog postings or Hitwises ratings I think we should be told hilarious as your Shitwise pun is And Im sure Hitwise would be interested in your deep analysis of its web analytics But Im glad you like our graphics cards reviews We review more products than any other UK website dont-cha-know FACT
Stop Bob said: And what name would you give a group of people who write reviews Journalists
Bob Stopper said: Youre right Tony They are as erroneous as the Shitewise ratings you see on your left These kids think they are journalists They should stick to reviewing graphics cards
Tony said: What is the function or purpose of these blogs
Bob Stopper said: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Brain Kay said: In the film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Ben Affleck told the 2 guys what the internet was forDo your research mate and stop being so insular and vain