Monday, November 17, 2003
No wonder the frog didn't understand you, you were using the wrong accent!
Yep, folks, a British researcher has discovered that frogs in Essex have a different accent from the rest of England.
This has to be frontrunner in the award for the most useless piece of science this year.
Useless science is rewarded, you will be pleased to know, by the annual Ig-Nobel Awards. This year's awards were recently announced, and here they are:
Engineering
The late John Paul Stapp, the late Edward A. Murphy, Jr., and George Nichols, for jointly giving birth in 1949 to Murphy's Law.
Physics
To a group of Australians, for their irresistible report "An Analysis of the Forces Required to Drag Sheep over Various Surfaces."
Medicine
To University College London, for presenting evidence that the brains of London taxi drivers are more highly developed than those of their fellow citizens.
Psychology
For the discerning report "Politicians' Uniquely Simple Personalities."
Chemistry
For the chemical investigation of a bronze statue, in the city of Kanazawa, that fails to attract pigeons.
Literature
To John Trinkaus, of New York City, for meticulously collecting data and publishing more than 80 detailed academic reports about specific annoyances and anomalies of daily life, such as: What percentage of young people wear baseball caps with the peak facing to the rear rather than to the front.
Economics
To the nation of Liechtenstein, for making it possible to rent the entire country for corporate conventions, weddings, bar mitzvahs, and other gatherings.
Interdisciplinary research
To researchers at Stockholm University, for their inevitable report "Chickens Prefer Beautiful Humans."
Peace
Lal Bihari, of Uttar Pradesh, India, for a triple accomplishment: First, for leading an active life even though he has been declared legally dead; Second, for waging a lively posthumous campaign against bureaucratic inertia and greedy relatives; and Third, for creating the Association of Dead People.
Biology
C.W. Moeliker, of Natuurmuseum Rotterdam, the Netherlands, for documenting the first scientifically recorded case of homosexual necrophilia in the mallard duck.
Yep, folks, a British researcher has discovered that frogs in Essex have a different accent from the rest of England.
This has to be frontrunner in the award for the most useless piece of science this year.
Useless science is rewarded, you will be pleased to know, by the annual Ig-Nobel Awards. This year's awards were recently announced, and here they are:
Engineering
The late John Paul Stapp, the late Edward A. Murphy, Jr., and George Nichols, for jointly giving birth in 1949 to Murphy's Law.
Physics
To a group of Australians, for their irresistible report "An Analysis of the Forces Required to Drag Sheep over Various Surfaces."
Medicine
To University College London, for presenting evidence that the brains of London taxi drivers are more highly developed than those of their fellow citizens.
Psychology
For the discerning report "Politicians' Uniquely Simple Personalities."
Chemistry
For the chemical investigation of a bronze statue, in the city of Kanazawa, that fails to attract pigeons.
Literature
To John Trinkaus, of New York City, for meticulously collecting data and publishing more than 80 detailed academic reports about specific annoyances and anomalies of daily life, such as: What percentage of young people wear baseball caps with the peak facing to the rear rather than to the front.
Economics
To the nation of Liechtenstein, for making it possible to rent the entire country for corporate conventions, weddings, bar mitzvahs, and other gatherings.
Interdisciplinary research
To researchers at Stockholm University, for their inevitable report "Chickens Prefer Beautiful Humans."
Peace
Lal Bihari, of Uttar Pradesh, India, for a triple accomplishment: First, for leading an active life even though he has been declared legally dead; Second, for waging a lively posthumous campaign against bureaucratic inertia and greedy relatives; and Third, for creating the Association of Dead People.
Biology
C.W. Moeliker, of Natuurmuseum Rotterdam, the Netherlands, for documenting the first scientifically recorded case of homosexual necrophilia in the mallard duck.
