Improbable Research

David Robert Leffler’s "A VEDIC APPROACH TO MILITARY DEFENSE: Reducing Collective Stress Through The Field Effects of Consciousness" is what might be termed a Theory of Pretty Much Everything.

Dr. Leffler is an impressively prolific writer.

Chemist Joanna Slusky of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA and Claudio Salim of Paris, France have just joined the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists (LFHCfS).

Today we received a crank letter that sets the standard for how to write a good one. Like every science-related journal, the Annals of Improbable Research receives a sufficiency of crank letters. Some are good crank letters, others are not so good. This particular crank letter is seven pages long, and handwritten. Honoring the tradition of the genre, its middle portion is irrelevant.  Here is how this letter begins:

Gentlemen,
Attached idea came to me while thinking about how one might explain that the equation….

And here is how it ends:

Maybe you are interested in this subject too — maybe not.

Enjoy!
Anonymous

There was no address, either in the letter or on the envelope that contained it. That absence of contact information, combined with the explicit (and sufficient) signature of "Anonymous," is a mark of thoughtfulness and kindness on the part of the person who wrote the letter. We honor his or her anonymity, and hope other cranks will emulate it.

The annual Ig Nobel issue of the magazine is at the printer now. Here is an advance look at one of the articles — the photo-spread general introduction to the goings-on at the 2005 ceremony.

The magazine contains lots more photos, info, and what might best be described as "stuff." If you don’t often see the Annals of Improbable Research itself, we do hope you will subscribe, and maybe also give a gift subscription to a loved or hated one.

(NOTE: If you want your subscription to begin with this special Ig Nobel issue — just write that clearly on your order form!)

Everyone, or at least every news editor, loves an equation. Here is the latest entry in our thick file of equations that made the news. A November 25, 2005 BBC News single-equation-laden report begins:

‘Beer goggles’ effect explained

Scientists believe they have worked out a formula to calculate how "beer goggles" affect a drinker’s vision.

The drink-fuelled phenomenon is said to transform supposedly "ugly" people into beauties - until the morning after.

Researchers at Manchester University say while beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder, the amount of alcohol consumed is not the only factor….

It follows, at an almost-discreet distance, their August 18, 2002 equation-free report that begins:

‘Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder’

Beauty may be in the eye of the beer holder rather than the beholder, according to a new study by scientists.

Academics in Scotland have found proof of the so-called "beer goggles" effect, following a study involving 80 students.

The researchers wanted to measure the infamous phenomenon by which members of the opposite sex become more attractive more alcohol is consumed.

They found that men and women who have drunk a moderate amount of alcohol find the faces of the opposite sex 25% more attractive than their sober counterparts..

(Thanks to investigator Francesca Jackson for bringing this to our attention.)