Category: Improbable Investigators

The mystery of the existence of Mikhailov (see “On the Existence of Mikhailov” and “Notes on the Existence of Mikhailov,” both of which appeared in AIR 10:2) has a parallel. To glimpse it, see The Riddle of the Self.

Curiosity is generally a good thing, but perhaps it is possible to have too much of it. Investogator Ron Josephson alerted us to a news report about too-brainy curiosity. The report appeared on television station KUSA, channel 9, Denver Colorado, on February 23, 2004. See it here.

The following article appears in the April 24, 2004 issue of the Times of India: Dikshit Jr Hits the Road NEW DELHI: His mother’s son. His introduction? His mother’s five years in Delhi have made the city breathe easy. Basking in the reflected glory of Sheila Dikshit’s second consecutive victory, Sandeep Dikshit, her protege, is […]

If you are intrigued about “On The Existence of Mikhailov,” if you can’t stop wondering about Mikhailov, if you crave more info no matter how tenuously connected it may be, then read the article “Notes on the Existence of Mikhailov.” It appears in volume 10, number 2 of the Annals of Improbable Research. Read the […]

the author was prompted to examine the evidence for the existence of A.I. Mikhailov, the legendary and apparently near-ubiquitous Soviet information scientist. At first glance this might seem unwarranted and gratuitous. After all, the appearance of Mikhailov, or at least his name, in the program was a fixture of international library and information science conferences […]

What’s new in Bunnlevel? Something not easily described. As the local newspaper put it: “Sounds ludicrous, but Mr. McLean is dead serious.” A report in the January 8, 2004 issue of the (Dunn, North Carolina) Daily Record includes the following: If Bunnlevel ever becomes a hub for space travel, Tommy McLean will be responsible. Based […]

“What is the record for the maximum number of authors/co-authors on a published paper?” asks investigator Brian G. Williams, Ph.D., P.E., of Idaho State University, in Pocatello, Idaho. He continues: A graduate student of mine found a paper: “STAR Detector Overview,” K.H. Ackermann, et. al., Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, vol. 499, […]

His colleagues and friends call him “Maggot Man.” He is one of the world’s foremost forensic entomologists, and even in that darkly cheery profession, he stands out for his sense of humor and encyclopedic curiosity. He is of course an editorial board member of the Annals of Improbable Research. He is a much-published author. He […]

“He was a con artist, but boy, he pulled it off,” Queeney said. “The man was truly a riddle wrapped in a sleeping bag. I don’t know if any of us will ever know who he really was.” So ends an Associated Press (AP) report, published on January 3, 2004, about the man who would […]

The patent application seems to challenge the “one sentence per claim” rule. It reads: What is new in the art of “Glory!” is that there has never been a Christian board game designed or illustrated such as this! From each individually characterized figurine representing the “Armour of God” to the uniquely designed game cards to […]