Listen: Celebrating the Quirky Side of Science

For over two decades, the Ig Noble Prize has been honouring unusual scientific achievements. But do these seemingly silly studies have any real scientific utility?

Samanth Subramanian

For over two decades, the Ig Noble Prize has been honouring unusual scientific achievements. But do these seemingly silly studies have any real scientific utility?

listen celebrating the quirky side of science

The 2012 IgNobel Prize. Source: UCSB

For 25 years, the Ig Nobel Prize has been rewarding funny, seemingly absurd achievements that, in their words, “first make people LAUGH, then make them THINK”. But, behind the absurdity lies serious science that can add, and often has added, to our collective knowledge. From the psychiatrist who studied the prevalence of nose picking among 200 children, to the economist who sold enough copies of his book to “single-handedly prevent worldwide economic collapse”, The Intersection examines the stories of a few Ig Nobel winners and the scientific potential of their research.

This is the latest episode of The Intersection, a fortnightly podcast on Audiomatic. For more such podcasts visit audiomatic.in.

This article went live on November seventeenth, two thousand fifteen, at one minutes past three in the afternoon.

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