PLEASE FORWARD/POST AS APPROPRIATE ================================================================ The mini-Annals of Improbable Research ("mini-AIR") Issue number 2004-07 July 2004 ISSN 1076-500X Key words: improbable research, science humor, Ig Nobel, AIR, the ---------------------------------------------------------------- A free newsletter of tidbits too tiny to fit in the Annals of Improbable Research (AIR), the journal of inflated research and personalities ================================================================ ----------------------------- 2004-07-01 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2004-07-01 Table of Contents 2004-07-02 Soon... 2004-07-03 What's New in the Magazine 2004-07-04 Birds Triumph Over Missiles 2004-07-05 A Mite More on Birds 2004-07-06 Sniff-On-the-Wing: Documentation Sought 2004-07-07 New Heads of Hair 2004-07-08 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: The (Rhythmic) Origin of Feces 2004-07-09 Monthly Correction 2004-07-10 Baby-in-a-Box Bafflement 2004-07-11 Improbable Limerick Laureate 2004-07-12 Gumming-Up-the-Works Poets 2004-07-13 Aussie Catnip Controversy 2004-07-14 Testis-Ovary Limerick Contest 2004-07-15 On the Blog 2004-07-16 MAY WE RECOMMEND: Osculation and Snails 2004-07-17 AIRhead Events 2004-07-18 How to Subscribe to AIR (*) 2004-07-19 Our Address (*) 2004-07-20 Please Forward/Post This Issue! (*) 2004-07-21 How to Receive mini-AIR, etc. (*) Items marked (*) are reprinted in every issue. mini-AIR is a free monthly *e-supplement* to AIR, the print magazine ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-07-02 Soon August will see Improbable Research shows in: <> Australia <> Stockholm, Sweden (maybe) <> Austria For some details, see section 2004-07-17 below. Further details will be announced soon. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-07-03 What's New in the Magazine The May/June issue (vol. 10, no. 3) is the special "LOSS OF INNOCENCE" issue. Highlights include: <> "Byrozoan Images," a collection of improbable photomicrographs by Simon Hall. <> "Aaaarrrggghhhh," by Nick Kim. <> "Dog Gone: Owney," by A.S. Kaswell. A look at a surprisingly historic postal and canine carcass. <> ... and many others... The table of contents is online at ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-07-04 Birds Triumph Over Missiles Last month's ADVANCED-TECHNOLOGY-ASSESSMENT SURVEY asked you to vote on which of the two has better prospects. The question was: Technically speaking, which project has the better chance of reliably working as promised? CHOICE A) The British Strategic Pigeon Initiative CHOICE B) The American Strategic Missile Defense Initiative Of all the surveys we have run, this elicited the most overwhelming decision. The result: A. Pigeons: 99% B. Missiles: 01% Here are comments from three of the four -- yes that's correct, four total -- voters who voted for missiles. INVESTIGATOR BOB WATERS: "SDI is more likely to work, for two reasons. First, contrary to the propaganda of the Left, the tests have actually, as a whole, been rather encouraging. Secondly, pigeons, by definition, tend to be Democrats, and therefore pacifistic except when a fellow Democrat is President. Hence, such a system would be inherently unreliable -- as is usually the case with Democrats." INVESTIGATOR STAN YOUNG: "This is not a fair (or technical) question. It is clear that just the suggestion of B was able to fell the mighty Russian Empire, so B has already worked." INVESTIGATOR NATALIE POLLECUTT: "Missile -- only because anything British never works." ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-07-05 A Mite More on Birds Investigator Jesse Skinner sent a pointer to some pre-history of the pigeon project: . Thanks go to him, and to all the other readers who sent info and pointers to other accounts of the pigeon research. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-07-06 Sniff-On-the-Wing: Documentation Sought A letter in the July 3-9, 2004 issue of New Scientist, from Leonard Winokur of Southampton, UK, makes a remarkable claim about butterflies: "Males of many species have special scales that release scent as they are lost to entice females in courtship. They may smell of flowers, cigars and even chocolate." If you can point us to any scientific documentation as to the presence and nature of flower, cigar and chocolate fumes in butterfly scales, we would be delighted to know the details. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-07-07 New Heads of Hair The Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists (LFHCfS) has some stunning new members. See them and their hair, at ----------------------------------------------------------- 2004-07-08 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: The (Rhythmic) Origin of Feces Each month we select for your special attention a research report that seems especially worth a close read. Your librarian will enjoy being asked (loudly, so other library patrons can hear it) for a copy. Here is this month's Pick-of-the-Month: "Reingestion of Feces in Rodents and Its Daily Rhythmicity," G.J. Kenagy and D.F. Hoyt, Oecologia, vol. 44, 1980, pp. 403-9. (Thanks to Sally Richardson for bringing this to our attention.) ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-07-09 Monthly Correction Last month's mini-AIR was marked July. It was the June issue. This month's issue is the July issue. It is not marked June. We apologize for any confusion this fails to cause. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-07-10 Baby-in-a-Box Bafflement It is now three months since we informed you that investigator T.F. Tauborg implored us to remind you that it is more than half a century since psychologist B.F. Skinner published his article "Baby in a Box" in Ladies Home Journal (September 28, 1945). We had hoped to have ascertained, within a month's time, why investigator Tauborg feels it is important that we remind you of that fact. Our hopes have not, as yet, been realized. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-07-11 Improbable Limerick Laureate Investigator Martin I. Eiger has now won three of our monthly limerick contests. As a practical matter, we are appointing Investigator Eiger to be this year's Improbable Limerick Laureate. This removes him from the field of competitors, and simultaneously places weighty expectations upon him to produce top-quality limericks in response to each month's contest. Congratulations and sympathy to the new Improbable Limerick Laureate! ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-07-12 Gumming-Up-the-Works Poets The judges in the first and last annual GUMMING-UP-THE-WORKS LIMERICK COMPETITION have chosen the winners, who in some sense explored the research report: "Adult Sudden Death Caused by Aspiration of Chewing Gum," S.N. Njau, Forensic Science International, vol. 139, nos. 2-3, January 28, 2004, pp. 103-6. The author reports that: "A 24-year-old white male died suddenly. A piece of chewing gum lodged in a pool of frothy fluid was revealed at autopsy. ... No alcohol or other drugs were detected in blood or urine." The winners will each receive a free, unchewed issue of the Annals of Improbable Research. Here are the triumphant poets and their limericks: INVESTIGATOR VERONICA MICHAELSEN When Njau discovered the gum He declared: "Boy was this fellow dumb!" He was chewing while walking And most likely talking And just couldn't handle the sum. INVESTIGATOR EVA VEIVO: With my mom I no longer need fight Because S.N. Njau proved her right. "To play with your gum Is not wise", said my mom, "Even grown-ups could die, yes they might!" And here is the view expressed by this year's IMPROBABLE LIMERICK LAUREATE, MARTIN I. EIGER: The autopsy findings were glum. His lungs were what made him succumb. They had fluid and gaps, And what made them collapse Was inhaling, not chewing, his gum. Several outstanding runner-up limericks will appear on the Improbable Research blog next week. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-07-13 Aussie Catnip Controversy Are all Australian cats immune to the charms of catnip? So inquires investigator Len X. Finegold. This involves a question of genetics. For background on the matter, see ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-07-14 Testis-Ovary Limerick Contest We invite you to enter the first and last annual TESTIS-OVARY LIMERICK COMPETITION, for the best (NEWLY composed!) limerick that elucidates this research report, which was brought to our attention by investigator Wendy Cooper: "Difference Between a Testis and an Ovary," R.V. Short, Journal of Experimental Zoology, vol. 281, no. 5, August 1998, pp. 359-61. RULES: Please make sure your rhymes actually do, and that your limerick at least pretends to adhere to classic limerick form. PRIZE: The winning poet will receive a free, well-differentiated issue of the Annals of Improbable Research. Send entries (one entry per entrant) to: TESTIS-OVARY LIMERICK CONTEST c/o ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-07-15 On the Blog Here are some recent topics (a new one appears every weekday) in our blog: Bugs Count Chewing Gum / Dental Teaching The Hairier Sex Photos from the Ig Nobel Tour of the U.K. and Ireland "Race Differences in Selection of Cheese Color" Is It Dangerous to Worry? Reach the blog via ----------------------------------------------------------- 2004-07-16 MAY WE RECOMMEND: Osculation and Snails KISS AND WALK "Three Attractive Osculating Walkers and a Polymer Collapse Transition," J.W. Essam, Journal of Statistical Physics, vol.110, nos.3-6, March 2003, p.1191-207. (Thanks to Tom Roberts for bringing this to our attention.) SKY SNAILS "Flying Snails -- How Far Can Truncatellina (Pulmonata: Vertiginidae) Be Blown Over the Sea?" C. Kirchner, R. KrŠtzner and F.W. Welter-Schultes, Journal of Molluscan Studies, vol. 63, 1997, pp. 479-87. (Thanks to Bob O'Hara for bringing this to our attention.) NOTE: the report is online at ------------------------------------------------------------ 2004-07-17 AIRhead Events ==> For details and updates see ==> Want to host an event? 617-491-4437. ==> AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK TOUR -- AUG. 2004 Ig Nobel events are scheduled for Perth, Alice Springs, Canberra, Victoria, and Tasmania. Details to be announced soon. INFO: Liz Roche INFO: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN. Quite possibly. TBA. ALPBACH TECHNOLOGY FORUM, AUSTRIA -- AUG. 28, 2004 9:00 A.M. AIR editor MARC ABRAHAMS will deliver a talk about improbable research and the Ig Nobel Prizes. INFO: ANNUAL IG NOBEL PRIZE CEREMONY -- THURS, SEP. 30, 2004 HARVARD UNIVERSITY IG INFORMAL LECTURES 2004 -- SAT, OCT. 2, 2004 MIT WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY, DETROIT, MI -- FRI, OCT. 29, 2004 9:00 AM AIR editor MARC ABRAHAMS will be the keynote speaker at the Undergraduate Research Conference. IG NOBEL TOUR OF THE U.K. AND IRELAND FOR NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK -- MAR. 11-20, 2005 BOSTON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE -- APR. 1, 2005 CASCADIACON, SEATTLE -- THURS, SEPT 1 - MON, SEPT. 5, 2005 North American Science Fiction Convention. AIR editor MARC ABRAHAMS will be the Science Guest of Honor INFO: http://www.cascadiacon.org -------------------------------------------------------------- 2004-07-18 How to Subscribe to AIR (*) Here's how to subscribe to the magnificent bi-monthly print journal The Annals of Improbable Research (the real thing, not just the little bits of overflow material you've been reading in this newsletter). ................................................................ Name: Address: Address: City and State: Zip or postal code: Country Phone: FAX: E-mail: ................................................................ SUBSCRIPTIONS (6 issues per year): USA 1 yr/$29 2 yrs/$53 Canada/Mexico 1 yr/$33 US 2 yrs/$57 US Overseas 1 yr/$45 US 2 yrs/$82 US ................................................................ BACK ISSUES are available, too: First issue: $8 USA, $11 Canada/Mex, $16 overseas Add'l issues purchased at same time: $6 each ................................................................ Send payment (US bank check, or international money order, or Visa, Mastercard or Discover info) to: Annals of Improbable Research (AIR) PO Box 380853, Cambridge, MA 02238 USA 617-491-4437 FAX:617-661-0927 ----------------------------------------------------- 2004-07-19 Our Address (*) Annals of Improbable Research (AIR) PO Box 380853, Cambridge, MA 02238 USA 617-491-4437 FAX:617-661-0927 EDITORIAL: marca@chem2.harvard.edu SUBSCRIPTIONS: air@improbable.com WEB SITE: --------------------------- 2004-07-20 Please Forward/Post This Issue! (*) Please distribute copies of mini-AIR (or excerpts!) wherever appropriate. The only limitations are: A) Please indicate that the material comes from mini-AIR. B) You may NOT distribute mini-AIR for commercial purposes. ------------- mini-AIRheads ------------- EDITOR: Marc Abrahams (marca@chem2.harvard.edu) MINI-PROOFREADER AND PICKER OF NITS (before we introduce the last few at the last moment): Wendy Mattson WWW EDITOR/GLOBAL VILLAGE IDIOT: Amy Gorin (airmaster@improbable.com) COMMUTATIVE EDITOR: Stanley Eigen (eigen@neu.edu) ASSOCIATIVE EDITOR: Mark Dionne PSYCHOLOGY EDITOR: Robin Abrahams CO-CONSPIRATORS: Alice Shirrell Kaswell, Gary Dryfoos, Ernest Ersatz, S. Drew MAITRE DE COMPUTATION: Jerry Lotto AUTHORITY FIGURES: Nobel Laureates Dudley Herschbach, Sheldon Glashow, William Lipscomb, Richard Roberts (c) copyright 2004, Annals of Improbable Research ----------------------------------------------------- 2004-07-21 How to Receive mini-AIR, etc. (*) What you are reading right now is mini-AIR. Mini-AIR is a (free!) tiny monthly *supplement* to the bi-monthly print magazine. To subscribe, send a brief E-mail message to: LISTPROC@AIR.HARVARD.EDU The body of your message should contain ONLY the words SUBSCRIBE MINI-AIR MARIE CURIE (You may substitute your own name for that of Madame Curie.) ---------------------------- To stop subscribing, send the following message: SIGNOFF MINI-AIR ============================================================