Humorous Science: The Alternative Style of Harvard University

Author: Mark Abrahams
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: Celebrate all those wonderfully weird, bizarre, and frankly, even improbable things that happen in real-world research! Have you ever wondered how many people are hit by falling coconuts each year? Do you know that rich, delicious Luau coffee is made from the excrement of palm cats? Or maybe you just want to know where you can buy a pair of comfortable underwear with charcoal built-in to absorb and neutralize all those unpleasant odors? This book will take you on a delightful tour of these whimsical and humorous scientific ideas!
Every year, the Nobel Prize is awarded to pioneers who achieve outstanding accomplishments in various highly anticipated fields. But what do we do for those with a brave spirit of scientific exploration, who delve into the uncharted, even if their rigorous efforts lead to some truly mind-boggling conclusions? How do we recognize their contributions? Some people train pigeons to successfully distinguish between Picasso's paintings and Mona Lisa's paintings—where do they get their medals? Others invent comfortable underwear with charcoal built-in, which can absorb and neutralize all unpleasant odors before they even escape. Shouldn’t we praise these inventions? The solemn Harvard University hosts the "Ig Nobel Prize" ceremony, which provides a satisfying answer: those who achieve "strange but not stealable" accomplishments are awarded medals.
In this book, The Improbable Research, a magazine known for its humor, tells us the fascinating stories behind these medals, involving the research of the laureates, the laureates themselves, and sometimes their unexpected reactions. As you read, you’ll discover that "PawSense" is the name of a computer software program—once installed, it alerts you when your cat climbs onto your keyboard. You’ll also meet the behind-the-scenes gentleman who made breakthroughs in studying the "Murphy’s Law," providing concrete evidence that "toast often lands butter-side down." Additionally, you’ll learn about many mysteries you’ve always wanted to know, such as "The Collapse of a Toilet in Glasgow, England" and "The Ideal Way to Soak Crackers."
Weird, bizarre, but all true—The Improbable Research is a book that brings you joy, taking a playful look at the world’s most outlandish scientific studies.