The May issue of mini-AIR just went out. Topics include: Planetary Medical Stars; Bacteria and Evelyn Evelyn; Mask Wiggling; Theatrical Germs Poet; “Reality-Based Improv”; Jay’s Words Unclean; etc. Mel [pictured here] says, “It’s swell.” (mini-AIR is the simplest way to keep informed about Improbable and Ig Nobel news and events. Just fill in the wee […]
Month: May 2010
Thankfully atypical burn #5
Bathtubs Methane build-up is not uncommon in sewage systems. Normally, a standard bathtub is substantially protected from methane back-leakage by the fluid-filled U-bend connected to the water outlet. But in case of failure, or excessive methane pressure, the gas can leak into the tub. Methane is highly flammable.
Boles: Sandwich meat’s green sheen
The occasional green sheen of sandwich meat is no mystery, according to Jane Ann Boles [pictured here, demonstrating meat slicing for her students] and Ronald Pegg. They wrote a guide called “Meat Color”, for the Montana State University and Saskatchewan Food Product Innovation program: Iridescence in Processed Meat Products Iridescence is a common problem in […]
How did dinosaurs pee?
[UPDATE: Several paleontologists have written to express amused disgust at the reasoning ascribed to this research team, and to note that the team some time ago “left to pursue other opportunities”. One correspondent also noted that the lead author once studied fossilized crab droppings from the Pierre Shale and published a study with the title […]