Researchers Win Ig Nobel Prize for Painting Cows with Stripes

BOSTON — A team of researchers from Japan has been awarded the prestigious Ig Nobel Prize for their intriguing study on whether painting cows with zebra-like stripes can help reduce fly bites. The awards ceremony took place on September 14, 2023, at Boston University, celebrating unusual yet thought-provoking scientific endeavors.

The Japanese team, led by Tomoki Kojima, conducted experiments by applying tape to Japanese beef cows and spray painting them with white stripes. Their findings indicated that the striped design significantly decreased the number of flies attracted to the cows, making them less uncomfortable. Kojima, expressing his excitement, stated, “When I did this experiment, I hoped that I would win the Ig Nobel. It’s my dream. Unbelievable. Just unbelievable.” Despite the positive results, he acknowledged that implementing this method on a larger scale could pose challenges.

The ceremony honored winners across ten categories and featured other playful research, including a study on the types of pizza preferred by lizards, conducted by a team from Africa and Europe. Marc Abrahams, the master of ceremonies and editor of the magazine Annals of Improbable Research, noted, “Every great discovery ever, at first glance, seemed screwy and laughable.”

The 35th annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony is an annual highlight, typically held shortly before the Nobel Prizes are announced. It serves to recognize research that entertains while prompting reflection on significant scientific questions. The event began with a tradition of the audience throwing paper airplanes at the stage, adding a lighthearted touch to the proceedings.

Several Nobel laureates, including Esther Duflo, shared messages on behalf of absent winners. The theme of this year’s event was digestion, featuring a mini-opera that humorously addressed the challenges faced by gastroenterologists.

In a segment called the 24-second lecture, researchers succinctly presented their work. Among them was Gus Rancatore, who humorously licked an ice cream cone while repeating “yum,” and Trisha Pasricha, who discussed the health implications of smartphone use while on the toilet. A recurring gag involved a man in a dress over his suit who interrupted any lengthy speeches with the phrase, “Please stop. I’m bored.”

Other notable winners included a team from India investigating the impact of foul-smelling shoes on shoe rack usage, and researchers from the United States and Israel assessing whether consuming Teflon could increase food volume. A particularly amusing study came from a group of international scientists who examined the effects of alcohol on bats’ flying abilities.

Francisco Sanchez, a researcher from Colombia involved in the bat study, expressed pride in the team’s achievement. He explained that their findings revealed bats did not prefer rotten fruit, which often contains higher alcohol concentrations, as it negatively affected their flying and echolocation. “They actually got drunk similar to what happens to us,” Sanchez noted, suggesting that their mobility and sensory perception were impaired after consuming the fermented fruit.

Among the most theatrical moments of the night involved a team from various European countries who explored the physics of pasta sauce. One researcher donned a cook’s outfit and a fake mustache while another dressed as a large ball of mozzarella cheese, humorously interacting with audience members wielding wooden spoons. They concluded their presentation by distributing bowls of pasta to the Nobel laureates.

The Ig Nobel Prizes serve not only to entertain but also to remind the public of the joy and curiosity inherent in scientific inquiry. These whimsical explorations encourage laughter while also prompting deeper consideration of the world around us.