PLEASE FORWARD/POST AS APPROPRIATE ================================================================ The mini-Annals of Improbable Research ("mini-AIR") Issue number 2004-08 August 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 ================================================================ ----------------------------- 2004-08-01 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2004-08-01 Table of Contents 2004-08-02 Soon... 2004-08-03 What's New in the Magazine 2004-08-04 Variations On a Theme 2004-08-05 Ig Tickets 2004-08-06 Testis-Ovary Poet 2004-08-07 Is Chewing Eating? (1) 2004-08-08 Is Chewing Eating? (2) 2004-08-09 Is Chewing Eating? (3) 2004-08-10 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Music/Kids Insight 2004-08-11 Sniff-On-the-Wing 2004-08-12 New Heads of Hair 2004-08-13 Astrosociology, Anyone? 2004-08-14 Feigned Depressed, Sleepy Voice Limerick Contest 2004-08-15 On the Blog 2004-08-16 MAY WE RECOMMEND: Weak-Top Scott, Beefburgers 2004-08-17 AIRhead Events 2004-08-18 How to Subscribe to AIR (*) 2004-08-19 Our Address (*) 2004-08-20 Please Forward/Post This Issue! (*) 2004-08-21 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 ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-08-02 Soon August will see Improbable Research shows in: <> Australia (Canberra, Perth, Alice Springs, Melbourne, Hobart) <> Sweden (Stockholm) <> Austria (Alpbach) For some details, see section 2004-08-17 below. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-08-03 What's New in the Magazine The July/August issue (vol. 10, no. 4) is the special ASTRONOMY issue. It will be arriving on subscribers' doorsteps soon. Highlights include: <> "The Importance of the Hyphen to Naked Astronomers," by D.L. Watermark <> "The Search for Tycho Brahe's Nose," Mark Benecke <> "The Illegitimate," a poem about Pluto, by Norbert Hirschorn <> ... and many others... The table of contents is online at ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-08-04 Variations On a Theme Investigator Nancy Gould writes: "For 6 years I've collected misspellings of the word 'diarrhea' from an email list for mastocytosis. Just when I think the list must be complete, another brave and troubled soul eschews the usual safety of 'big D' and makes a novel stab at the full word. Here is my list:" Diarreah Diarhea Diareah Diaeheara Diaherra Diarriah Diahrea Diarhhea Diareahha Diahorrea Diarehha Dirhea Diarrhoe diarhea Diarhorria Diarreaha "Other than their all starting with 'd' and the body containing at least one 'r,' the variability is fluid and sometimes explosive. Just thought you would like to know." ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-08-05 Ig Tickets Tickets for the 14th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony go on sale August 5, at the Harvard Box Office. Phone: 617-496-2222. Those wishing to bring theme delegations, please register ASAP with Louise Sacco, the Grand Panjandrum of the Delegations, at 781 444-6757, . The ceremony will happen on Thursday night, September 30, at Sanders Theatre, Harvard University. The theme of this year's ceremony is DIET. The evening will include, among other things, the premiere of "The Atkins Diet Opera." ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-08-06 Testis-Ovary Poet The judges in the first and last annual TESTIS-OVARY LIMERICK COMPETITION have chosen the winners, who in some sense explored the research report: "Difference Between a Testis and an Ovary," R.V. Short, Journal of Experimental Zoology, vol. 281, no. 5, August 1998, pp. 359-61. The winner will receive a free, well-differentiated issue of the Annals of Improbable Research. Here is the triumphant poet and his limerick: INVESTIGATOR BRIAN FIES: After eons of fumbling about Short's findings removed any doubt. To tell ov'ry from testis The test that works best is To see if it's inside or out. And here is the view expressed by this year's IMPROBABLE LIMERICK LAUREATE, MARTIN I. EIGER: The Short report clarifies terms. In short, his reporting confirms There's ovaries makin' Our eggs (not our bacon), And testes are makin' our sperms. Several outstanding runner-up limericks will appear on the Improbable Research blog some day in the next week or so. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-08-07 Is Chewing Eating? (1) This month's philosophical/ physiological question to ponder is: Does chewing constitute eating? ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-08-08 Is Chewing Eating? (2) Chewing is eating, according to a an experience reported in the July 29 issue of the Washington Post. Here are (slightly edited, for length) highlights: "Stephanie Willett, a 45-year-old scientist for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was eating a PayDay candy bar while riding the escalator from 11th Street NW into the Metro Center Station. Metro Transit Police Officer Cherrail Curry-Hagler warned Willett to finish the candy before entering the station because eating or drinking in the Metro system is illegal. "Willett nodded, kept chewing the peanut-and-caramel bar and stuffed the last bit into her mouth before throwing the wrapper into the trash can near the station manager's kiosk, according to both Willett and Curry-Hagler. "Curry-Hagler turned around and followed Willett into the station. Moments after making a remark to the officer, Willett said, she was searched, handcuffed and arrested for chewing the last bite of her candy bar after she passed through the fare gates. She was released several hours later after paying a $10 fine, pending a hearing. "Lisa Farbstein, a Metro spokeswoman said Willett violated the rules. 'Chewing is eating,' she said." The full account is online at ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-08-09 Is Chewing Eating? (3) We would be interested to hear from QUALIFIED legal scholars about a related question: Is it legal to stand inside the Washington Metro and simply chew -- without having anything in your mouth? ----------------------------------------------------------- 2004-08-10 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Music/Kids Insight 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: "The Importance of Music to Adolescents," A.C. North, D.J. Hargreaves, and S.A. O'Neill, British Journal of Educational Psychology, vol. 70, part 2, June 2000, pp. 255-72. (Thanks to Ramona and Phil Tolland for bringing this to our attention.) The authors report that: "[Our] results indicate that music is important to adolescents, and that this is because it allows them to (a) portray an 'image' to the outside world and (b) satisfy their emotional needs." ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-08-11 Sniff-On-the-Wing Several readers sent answers, of sorts, to last month's plea for 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. Investigator Adrian Smith sent in several useful pointers, among which are the new and old versions of the Pherolist: ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-08-12 New Heads of Hair The Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists (LFHCfS) continues to, er, grow. See the newest members at ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-08-13 Astrosociology, Anyone? A new field of study is born, apparently. Investigator Angela Close writes: "A friend suggested I check out . You might want to check it out too. It has a particularly helpful definition of itself: "Astrosociology is the sociological study of the two-way relationship between astrosocial phenomena and ... non-astrosocial phenomena." The appearance of an important new field of study always has implications. First and last among them: a sudden, yet interminable battle for office and laboratory space on college campuses everywhere. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-08-14 Feigned Depressed, Sleepy Voice Limerick Contest We invite you to enter the first and last annual FEIGNED DEPRESSED, SLEEPY VOICE COMPETITION, for the best (NEWLY composed!) limerick that elucidates this research report, which was brought to our attention by investigator Marie Diamond: "Feigned Depression and Feigned Sleepiness: A Voice Acoustical Analysis," Nicole Reilly, Michael S. Cannizzaro, Brian T. Harel and Peter J. Snyder, Brain and Cognition, vol. 55, 2004, pp. 383-6. The authors report that: "[Our] results indicate that persons feigning depression and sleepiness demonstrate some level of conscious control of their speech rate, but they did not convincingly alter their pitch ranges while feigning depression or sleepiness." 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, sonorous issue of the Annals of Improbable Research. Send entries (one entry per entrant) to: FEIGNED DEPRESSED, SLEEPY VOICE LIMERICK CONTEST c/o ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-08-15 On the Blog Here are some recent topics (a new one appears every weekday) in our blog: Young Lion Researcher The Naked Hunch Photos from the recent U.K./Ireland Ig Nobel Tour Fink on Trinkaus & Trinkaus Wag the Mail ... and many others Reach the blog via ----------------------------------------------------------- 2004-08-16 MAY WE RECOMMEND: Weak-Top Scott, Beefburgers NOT SO GREAT SCOTT "When Scott is Weak on the Top," Abbas Edalat, Mathematical Structures in Computer Science, vol. 7, no. 1, 1997, pp. 401-17. (Thanks to David Molnar and Jan Johannsen for bringing this to our attention.) HAMBURGER HAZARDS "The Beefburger Injury: A Restrospective Survey," V.S. Digjinni, J. Stevenson, and A.F.S. Flemming, British Medical Journal, vol. 315, no. 7108, September 1997, p. 580. (Thanks to Wendy Cooper for bringing this to our attention.) ------------------------------------------------------------ 2004-08-17 AIRhead Events ==> For details and updates see ==> Want to host an event? 617-491-4437. ==> IG NOBEL TOUR OF AUSTRALIA -- AUGUST, 2004 For Australia's NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK. CANBERRA -- THU, AUG 12 CURTIN UNIVERSITY, PERTH -- FRI, AUG 13 ALICE SPRINGS -- SUN, AUG 15 CANBERRA -- MON & TUE , AUG 16 & 17 MELBOURNE -- WED & THU, AUG 18 & 19 UNIV OF TASMANIA, HOBART -- FRI & SAT, AUG 20 & 21 ** Details are being finalized -- so check the web site at ** INFO: ** INFO ON THAT WEB SITE WILL BE UPDATED SOON! INFO: Liz Roche, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, EUROSCIENCE OPEN FORUM -- AUG. 26, 2004 8:30 PM (approx) AIR editor MARC ABRAHAMS will speak about the Ig Nobel Prizes. INFO: Jens Degett, 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 Phone: 617-496-2222 INFO: 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 -------------------------------------------------------------- 2004-08-18 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 ----------------------------------------------------- 2004-08-19 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: --------------------------- 2004-08-20 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 ----------------------------------------------------- 2004-08-21 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 ============================================================