Category: Arts and Science

Penguins go plop all the time. For an example, look here. (Thanks to Martin Meder for bringing this to our attention.) And of course penguins go pooh all the time. For an example, look here.

Not every publication admits that it, on occasion, contains errors. The British Medical Journal (or, as it’s known these days, the BMJ) is more pleasingly straightforward than most of its peers, as you can see here.

Investigator Dwight Fisher sent us this report from the field: I was taking a much needed rest from my scientific pursuits with a collection of technical support staff in a local vegetarian restaurant located on a busy street near downtown Athens, Georgia. One of the staff looked out the window and said, “What is that?” […]

Science is a social activity — very social. That’s why the Annals of Improbable Research has a brand-new regular column called “Socially Scientific.” Read the very first appearance of “Socially Scientific here.

Do you find yourself pregnant, and wanting some mathematical amusement? Here’s something simple and pleasing. During the course of the pregnancy, use a lamp to project your silhouette on the wall once a week. Have someone trace the outline in pencil. You might want to write the date next to each curve. (You might also […]

“Where can I find your remarkable collection of fingerprint art?” writes investigator Sheila Soames. She, and anyone else who wants a look, can see it here. By clicking on successive links, one can see a total of eight majestic artworks, each composed within the confines, yet taking advantage of the conformations,of human fingerprints. The originals […]

Improbable research translates from one language to another, but sometimes this involves adventure. For a prime example, see the letter from the Chinese translator of the book Best of Annals of Improbable Research, here.

The English writer Samuel Pepys (who lived from 1633-1703, and whose name was pronounced “peeps”) produced a diary that is now much-celebrated. We at the Annals of Improbable Research have have an intriguing photograph of “Marshmallow” Pepys, which you can see here.

Our Rate-the-Poets Project question of the month is: Which of these three poets (click here to see them) would you be least likely to buy a used car from? Data from this question will be added to our database, for future analysis.

Investigator Martin Meder sent us this report: I go to this pizzeria for lunch today. I park the car and start walking to the door of the place, and this SUV starts to pull out of a parking space in front of me. So, I stop. The SUV stops pulling out and this woman (in […]