PLEASE FORWARD/POST AS APPROPRIATE ================================================================ The mini-Annals of Improbable Research ("mini-AIR") Issue number 2004-10 October 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 ================================================================ ----------------------------- 2004-10-01 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2004-10-01 Table of Contents 2004-10-02 Soon... 2004-10-03 What's New in the Magazine 2004-10-04 Marcellus Mystery 2004-10-05 The 2004 Ig Nobel Prize Winners 2004-10-06 Mack, Benveniste, and Wallace 2004-10-07 Psychotic Grandiosity Poets 2004-10-08 Cocktail-Party-Science-Jargon 2004-09-09 Scientists vs. God 2004-10-10 New Ig Books 2004-10-11 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Children -- Appearance and Reality 2004-10-12 Lean Obesity Limerick Contest 2004-10-13 On the Blog 2004-10-14 MAY WE RECOMMEND: Brain, Scrotum and Monocle 2004-10-15 AIRhead Events 2004-10-16 How to Subscribe to AIR (*) 2004-10-17 Our Address (*) 2004-10-18 Please Forward/Post This Issue! (*) Items marked (*) are reprinted in every issue. mini-AIR is a free monthly *e-supplement* to AIR, the print magazine ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-10-02 Soon Improbable Research shows in Cincinnati (Oct 27) and Detroit (Oct 29) For details, see section 2004-10-15 below ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-10-03 What's New in the Magazine The Sept/Oct issue (vol. 10, no. 5) is the special CATS issue. Further highlights: <> "Cat Synchronization," a photo-essay by Wallaby Ranford. <> "Schroedinger's Grave," by Stephen Drew. A visit to (and a photograph of) the resting place of the physicist who gave us science's most unexpected feline notion. <> "Esther the Cold War Kitty" -- a sample of the purported cold- war-era hoax children's book, and commentary thereon. <> ... and many others... The table of contents is online at ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-10-04 Marcellus Mystery Is Lenora Marcellus Lenora Marcellus and Lenora Marcellus? The question is posed by investigator Kristine Danowski, who discovered this citation: "Feminist Ethics Must Inform Practice: Interventions With Perinatal Substance Users," Lenora Marcellus, Lenora Marcellus, Lenora Marcellus, Health Care for Women International, vol. 25, no. 8, September 2004, pp. 730-42. The first Lenora Marcellus is listed as being at the University of Alberta, the second at the Vancouver Island Health Authority, Vancouver Island, Canada, and the third at the Vancouver Island Fetal Alcohol Research Group, Vancouver Island, Canada. We would like to hear from someone -- other than Lenora Marcellus -- who can answer the question once (and only once) and for all. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-10-05 The 2004 Ig Nobel Prize Winners The 2004 Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded at the 14th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony, on September 30, at Harvard's Sanders Theatre. Most of the winners were in attendance. Here are the winners: MEDICINE Steven Stack of Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA and James Gundlach of Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA, for their published report "The Effect of Country Music on Suicide." PHYSICS Ramesh Balasubramaniam of the University of Ottawa, and Michael Turvey of the University of Connecticut and Haskins Laboratory, for exploring and explaining the dynamics of hula-hooping. PUBLIC HEALTH Jillian Clarke of the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, and then Howard University, for investigating the scientific validity of the Five-Second Rule about whether it's safe to eat food that's been dropped on the floor. CHEMISTRY The Coca-Cola Company of Great Britain, for using advanced technology to convert liquid from the River Thames into Dasani, a transparent form of water, which for precautionary reasons has been made unavailable to consumers. ENGINEERING Donald J. Smith and his father, the late Frank J. Smith, of Orlando Florida, USA, for patenting the combover (U.S. Patent #4,022,227). LITERATURE The American Nudist Research Library of Kissimmee, Florida, USA, for preserving nudist history so that everyone can see it. PSYCHOLOGY Daniel Simons of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Christopher Chabris of Harvard University, for demonstrating that when people pay close attention to something, it's all too easy to overlook anything else -- even a woman in a gorilla suit. ECONOMICS The Vatican, for outsourcing prayers to India. PEACE Daisuke Inoue of Hyogo, Japan, for inventing karaoke, thereby providing an entirely new way for people to learn to tolerate each other. BIOLOGY Ben Wilson of the University of British Columbia, Lawrence Dill of Simon Fraser University [Canada], Robert Batty of the Scottish Association for Marine Science, Magnus Whalberg of the University of Aarhus [Denmark], and Hakan Westerberg of Sweden's National Board of Fisheries, for showing that herrings apparently communicate by farting. DETAILS: Further details, with citations, links, and some photos, are at http://www.improbable.com/ig/ig-pastwinners.html#ig2004 VIDEO: We hope to have video of the ceremony up on our web site soon. The URL is: KARAOKE TRIBUTE: You can hear the delightful Herschbach-Hopkin- Lipscomb-Roberts karaoke tribute to Mr. Inoue in a nifty NPR report at UPCOMING: A complete report on the winners and the ceremony will appear in the Nov/Dec special Ig Nobel issue of the Annals of Improbable Research. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-10-06 Mack, Benveniste, and Wallace We note with sadness: The passing of John Mack (Ig Nobel Psychology Prize co-winner, 1993): The passing of Jacques Benveniste (the only two-time Ig Nobel Prize winner -- Chemistry 1991 and Chemistry 1998): The resurgence of Sanford Wallace (Ig Nobel Communications Prize winner, 1997): ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-10-07 Psychotic Grandiosity Poets The judges in the first and last annual PSYCHOTIC GRANDIOSITY LIMERICK COMPETITION have chosen the winners, who in some sense explored the research report: "Psychotic Grandiosity," I.D. Harris, Psychiatry, vol. 40, no. 4, November 1977 pp. 344-51. The author explains that: "Surprisingly little has been added to our understanding of psychotic grandiosity in the past 50 years, and our knowledge of it has not advanced appreciably beyond the early descriptions provided by Bleuler, Kraepelin, Freud, and others." The winners will each receive a free, grandiosely stimulating issue of the Annals of Improbable Research. Here is the triumphant poet and his limerick: INVESTIGATOR BILL BLOMGREN: Bleuler, Freud and the Rest Described fully the problem, with zest. Psychotic Grandiosity! Their Massive Verbosity Leaves little for Harris to Test. And here is the view expressed by this year's IMPROBABLE LIMERICK LAUREATE, MARTIN I. EIGER: Fifty years of post-Freud otiosity Taught us naught of deranged grandiosity. Thus did Harris confess, In eight pages, no less. It's a grandiose feat of verbosity. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-10-08 Cocktail-Party-Science-Jargon This month's Cocktail-Party-Science-Jargon word is "gasotransmitters." The Cocktail-Party-Science-Jargon Club recommends that you mention gasotransmitters at least seven times at the next cocktail party you attend. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-09-09 Scientists vs. God At the premiere of the new play "Small Infinities" (by Alan Brody, about Isaac Newton) we overheard a question which now becomes this month's Science Murder Mystery Survey: How many scientists have been credited with killing God? Please cast your vote for ONE of these choices: a) None b) One c) Between two and 999, inclusive d) More than 1000 Please send your vote, with as little comment as possible, to: SCIENTIST MURDER MYSTERY SURVEY c/o ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-10-10 New Ig Books We are pleased to announce the publication, in the U.K., just a few days from now, of the second Ig Nobel Prizes book: "Why Chickens Prefer Beautiful Humans" ISBN 0752868462 Also new -- these editions of the first Ig book: "The Ig Nobel Prizes" The paperback U.S. edition: ISBN: 0452285739 The Japanese edition: ISBN: 4-484-04109 The Polish edition, ISBN: 83-240-0446-7. The Italian edition: ISBN 881160022-7. ----------------------------------------------------------- 2004-10-11 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Children -- Appearance and Reality 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: "Apparent Mass of Small Children: Experimental Measurements," J. Giacomin, Ergonomics, vol. 47, no. 13, October 22, 2004, pp. 1454- 74. (Thanks to David Travis for bringing this to our attention.) The author explains that: "A test facility and protocol were developed for measuring the seated, vertical, whole-body vibration response of small children of less than 18 kg in mass over the frequency range from 1 to 45 Hz." ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-10-12 Lean Obesity Limerick Contest We invite you to enter the first and last annual LEAN OBESITY LIMERICK COMPETITION, for the best (NEWLY composed!) limerick that elucidates this research report, which was brought to our attention by investigator Anthony Greco: "Obesity -- What are the Current Treatment Options?" M.E. Lean, Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology and Diabetes, vol. 106, Supplement 2, 1998, pp. 22-6. The author is at Glasgow University. 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, leanly obese issue of the Annals of Improbable Research. Send entries (one entry per entrant) to: LEAN OBESITY LIMERICK CONTEST c/o ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004-10-13 On the Blog Here are some recent topics (a new one appears every weekday) in our blog: Pek on "Serendipity" Leadership and Murphy's Law Photos from the Ig Nobel tour of Australia Another Long-Running Experiment ... and many others Reach the blog via ----------------------------------------------------------- 2004-10-14 MAY WE RECOMMEND: Brain, Scrotum and Monocle THOUGHT EXPERIMENT "Brain Functions of Christians and Non-Christians," C.B. Dodrill, Journal of Psychology and Theology, vol. 4, no. 4, 1976, pp. 280- 5. (Thanks to Catherine Ludwig for bringing this to our attention.) FURTHER SCROTAL SCRUTINY "Right-Left and the Scrotum in Greek Sculpture," Chris McManus, Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain, and Cognition, vol. 9, no. 2, April 2004, pp. 189-99. The author further explores the topic for which he was awarded the 2002 Ig Nobel Biology Prize. (Thanks to Nick Matzke for bringing this to our attention.) MADEIRA ON RED WINE "Mechanism of the Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation and the Antihypertensive Effect of Brazilian Red Wine," R.S. de Moura, D.Z. Miranda, A.C.Pinto, R.F. Sicca, M.A. Souza, L.M. Rubenich, L.C. Carvalho, B.M. Rangel, T. Tano, S.V. Madeira and A.C. Resende, Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, vol. 44,no. 3, September 2004, pp. 302-9. (Thanks to Dany Adams for bringing this to our attention.) MONOCLE USE "The Use of a Monocle for Ptosis," D.S. Pfoff and B.C. Sherbok, Ophthalmic Surgery, vol. 14, no 5, May 1983, pp. 430-1. ------------------------------------------------------------ 2004-10-15 AIRhead Events ==> For details and updates see ==> Want to host an event? 617-491-4437. ==> WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY, DETROIT, MI -- FRI, OCT. 29, 2004 McGregor Memorial Conference Center 9:00 AM AIR editor MARC ABRAHAMS will be the keynote speaker at the Undergraduate Research Conference. INFO: UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI -- WED, OCT 27, 2004 7:00-9:00 PM. Room to be announced. AIR editor MARC ABRAHAMS will discuss the Ig Nobel Prizes and the nature of improbable research. Sponsored by the Association for Rational Thought www.cincinnatiskeptics.org INFO: Gary Weiss 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. SCIENCE FRIDAY WITH IRA FLATOW, NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO -- FRI, NOV 26, 2004 Annual broadcast of special program about the Ig Nobel Ceremony. For local radio schedule, or to listen on the web, see www.sciencefriday.com RETIRED MEN'S ASSOCIATION, SUDBURY, MA -- FRI, DEC 10, 2004 AIR editor MARC ABRAHAMS will discuss the Ig Nobel Prizes, the nature of improbable research, and the implications of either or both on the members of the Retired Men's Association. Attendence is by invitation only of the Invitation Subcommittee of the Invitations Board of the Association of Retired Men. ==== 2005 ==== AAAS ANNUAL MEETING, WASHINGTON, DC -- FRI, FEB 18, 2005 IG NOBEL TOUR OF THE UK AND IRELAND for NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK -- MAR 11-20, 2005 MUSEUM OF SCIENCE, BOSTON, MA -- APR 1, 2005 NATIONAL WRITERS' WORKSHOP, HARTFORD, CT -- APR 16/17, 2005 CASCADIACON, SEATTLE -- THURS, SEPT 1 - MON, SEPT. 5, 2005 FIFTEENTH 1ST ANNUAL IG NOBEL PRIZE CEREMONY -- exact date to be announced (will be a Thursday night in the vicinity of October 1) -------------------------------------------------------------- 2004-10-16 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). ................................................................ 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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 ----------------------------------------------------- 2004-10-17 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: --------------------------- 2004-10-18 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 ----------------------------------------------------- 2004-10-20 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. 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