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'Why Banana Skins Are Slippery' Wins IgNobel

Posted by Soulskill on from the congratulations-to-all dept.

gbjbaanb writes: This year's Ig Nobel prize was won by Japanese researchers investigating why banana skins produced a frictionless surface compared to apple and orange peels. (Apparently, "The polysaccharide follicular gels that give banana skins their slippery properties are also found in the membranes where our bones meet," so its not all fun and jollity). Other prizes were awarded for noting that dogs only defecate when aligned with north-south magnetic fields, and that "night owl" people are more likely to be psychopaths than early risers. Yes, that probably includes you.

7 of 127 comments (clear)

  1. Dogs as compass by Tukz · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Other prizes were awarded for noting that dogs only defecate when aligned with north-south magnetic fields"

    So when you're lost in a forest, watch which way your dog is pointing when it poops.
    I'm sure I can market "Compass Dogs" as a new thing.

    --
    - Don't do what I do, it's probably not healthy nor safe. -
    1. Re:Dogs as compass by JonWan · · Score: 4, Funny

      I wonder what would happen if you don't allow a dog to align north-south.

      You will cause a rip in the space time continuum and destroy the universe.

    2. Re:Dogs as compass by Dr.+Evil · · Score: 4, Funny

      Spoken like a C programmer.

    3. Re:Dogs as compass by idontgno · · Score: 5, Funny

      The poop comes out aligned north-south anyway, but the dog really doesn't like it. Hurts like hell when it comes out sideways.

      --
      Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
    4. Re:Dogs as compass by ArhcAngel · · Score: 3, Funny

      You have no idea how many times the Doctor has had to repair the timeline due to spurious usage of malloc!

      --
      "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
  2. Re:Doo-proofing by ZombieBraintrust · · Score: 5, Funny

    You don't get it. Dogs pooing north south creates the magnetic field. Your experiment would cause the magnetic poles to shift.

  3. Re:Bananas vs Grapes by bjorniac · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, it was the fashion of the time. Now gimme five bees for a quarter.