Humorous Science -- The Alternative Style of Harvard University

Author: (USA) Mark Abrahams
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: By reading this book, you will discover one by one those ingenious ideas that bring you joy and surprise! · You will learn why robbers dared to rob the Pittsburgh Bank without disguise · You will know what kind of financial instrument caused the Bank of England to collapse overnight · You will know the unique combat training methods of the British Royal Navy that replaced guns with slogans · You will know how to use centrifugal force to accelerate childbirth · You will know how the Self-Fragrant Suit hides the smell of tobacco and alcohol to help men escape their wives' punishment · You will know where to buy deodorant underwear Some people covet it, while others keep their distance. Some regard it as a symbol of civilization, while others see it as a sign of flaw. Many praise it, while some denounce it, and others are deceived. Meanwhile, countless people have fallen in love with it. It is the "Ig Nobel Prize."
Every year, the Nobel Prize is awarded to leaders who have made outstanding achievements in various prominent fields. However, for those with a courageous spirit of scientific exploration, in areas that are difficult for ordinary people to understand, or even those who must exert rigorous efforts to draw some absurd scientific conclusions, how can we recognize their contributions? Some train pigeons to successfully distinguish between Picasso's paintings and Monet's paintings—where should the medal they are awarded be placed? Some have invented deodorant underwear embedded with charcoal, which can absorb and neutralize all offensive gases before they are released. Shouldn’t we praise these inventions? The solemn Harvard University hosts the "Ig Nobel Prize" ceremony, which gives us a satisfactory answer: those who have achieved "strange but not stealable" accomplishments are awarded medals.
In this book, The Less Likely to Succeed, a humorous magazine, tells us the fascinating stories behind these medals, involving the research of the awardees, the awardees themselves, and sometimes unexpected reactions. As you read this book, you will discover that "PawSense" is the name of a computer software program—once installed, if your cat climbs onto your keyboard, the computer will immediately notify you. You will also meet the behind-the-scenes man who made breakthroughs in researching the "Murphy's Law," who has found concrete evidence to prove that "toast often lands butter-side down." Additionally, you will learn many mysteries you wish to know, such as "The Collapse of a Toilet in Glasgow, UK" and "The Ideal Way to Soak Crackers."
Strange, incredible, but all true—Funny Science is a book that brings you joy, leading you to view the world's most outlandish scientific research with a playful eye.