The rantings of the clinically cheesed off

Now having had a look through a website that features the Ig Noble Awards i though i’d share with you my 10 favorites. I’m going to list the winner(s), year, category, title and what there research consisted of(if applicable). Now in no particular order they are :-

1. Gauri Nanda – 2005 – Economics – For inventing an alarm clock that continuously runs away so you have to get out of bed.

2. Ivan V Schwarb & Phillip R.A May(late) – 2006 – Ornithology – Why woodpeckers don’t get headaches

3. The Vatican – 2004 – Economics – Outsourcing catholic prayers to India

4. Antonio Mulet, José Javier Benedito & José Bon – 2006 – Chemistry – Ultrasonic Velocity in Cheddar Cheese as Affected by Temperature

5. Gregg A Miller – 2005 – Medicine – For inventing the Neuticles (artificial testicles for dogs, availible in three sizes and degrees of firmness)

6. Karl Schwärzler and the nation of Liechtenstein- 2003 – Economics – For making the entire country available for rent for corporate gathering, weddings etc.

7. Karl Kruszelnicki – 2002 – Interdisciplinary research – For performing a comprehensive survay of human belly button lint (who gets it, how much etc)

8. Peter Barss – 2001 – Medicine -Injuries Due to Falling Coconuts

9. John Keogh – 2001 – Technology – For patenting the Wheel in 2001 (jointly awarded to the Australian Patent board)

10. Jillian Clarke – 2004 – Public Heath – For investigating the scientific validity of the 5 second rule (IE is food safe to eat after being dropped on the floor and retrieved before 5 seconds have expired).

Well theres my list, please feel free to tell me yours.

Just goes to show that if you have a stupid enough idea and are good at spouting nonsense people will be falling over themselves to give you grant money.