Researchers Win Ig Nobel for Striped Cows and Bizarre Studies

A team of researchers from Japan has been awarded the prestigious Ig Nobel Prize for their unconventional study exploring whether painting cows with zebra-like stripes can deter flies from biting them. The ceremony took place on March 15, 2024, at Boston University, where the winners received a hand-crafted model of a human stomach alongside a single hand wipe instead of a cash prize.

The lead researcher, Tomoki Kojima, and his team conducted their experiment by applying tape to Japanese beef cows and spray painting them with white stripes. Their findings indicated that the striped cows attracted fewer flies and appeared less bothered by the insects. Despite the positive results, Kojima acknowledged that implementing this method on a larger scale could present challenges.

The Ig Nobel Prizes, organized by the Annals of Improbable Research, recognize quirky yet thought-provoking scientific achievements. This year’s ceremony celebrated winners across ten categories, including a group of researchers from Europe who discovered that consuming alcohol sometimes enhances a person’s ability to speak a foreign language. Another notable winner studied fingernail growth over decades.

Marc Abrahams, editor of the magazine, shared insights about the awards, stating, “Every great discovery ever, at first glance, seemed screwy and laughable. The same is true of every worthless discovery. The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate ALL these discoveries, because at the very first glance, who really knows?”

The lively ceremony featured a tradition where the audience threw paper airplanes at the stage. Some winners who could not attend had their speeches read by Nobel laureates, including Esther Duflo, who received a Nobel Prize for her innovative approach to tackling global poverty. A mini-opera about gastroenterologists and their patients also entertained attendees, highlighting this year’s theme of digestion.

Another segment, known as the 24-second lecture, allowed top researchers to succinctly explain their work. Among them was Gus Rancatore, who humorously licked an ice cream cone while repeatedly expressing delight, and Trisha Pasricha, who discussed the potential health risks of using smartphones while on the toilet.

Other unconventional studies recognized this year included a team from India investigating the effects of foul-smelling shoes on user experience with shoe racks and researchers from the United States and Israel examining whether consuming Teflon could increase food volume. Notably, a group of scientists investigated the impact of alcohol on bats, with researcher Francisco Sanchez noting that their findings indicated bats did not prefer rotten fruit with high alcohol content. Sanchez remarked, “They actually got drunk similar to what happens to us. When you take some ethanol, you move slower and your speech is impaired.”

Among the most entertaining moments of the evening was a team from several European countries who presented their research on the physics of pasta sauce. One researcher donned a cook’s outfit complete with a fake mustache, while another, dressed as a large mozzarella cheese ball, was humorously pelted with wooden cooking utensils. They concluded their presentation by serving bowls of pasta to the distinguished Nobel laureates.

The Ig Nobel Prize ceremony not only highlights amusing scientific inquiries but also demonstrates that serious research can be approached with humor and creativity. As Sanchez aptly stated, “It’s really good. You can see that scientists are not really square and super serious and can have some fun while showing interesting science.”