2021 Ig Nobel Prizes Honor Decongestant Orgasms, Rhino Transport

A full beard can absorb nearly 40 percent of the shock from a punch to the face, according to one winning study.

Written byLisa Winter
| 2 min read
Rhino upside down in the sky

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ABOVE: A tranquilized rhinoceros is transported aerially, which one study found is safer for the animals than lying on their sides.
NAMIBIAN MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY, AND TOURISM

Science is driven by curiosity. While some topics are more useful to society, such as treating cancer or mitigating climate change, others are less consequential, such as how to best kill cockroaches on a submarine or what bacteria lurk in that piece of chewing gum stuck under a table. The latter group has a chance to shine thanks to the Ig Nobel prizes from the Annals of Improbable Research.

The 31st First Annual (yes, you read that right) Ig Nobel Prize ceremony was held last week (September 9), honoring work representing 10 categories. Because of the ongoing pandemic, the ceremony was held fully online. Winners were sent a PDF file, allowing them to cut out and assemble a gear-shaped trophy, with human ...

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  • Lisa joined The Scientist in 2017. As social media editor, some of her duties include creating content, managing interactions, and developing strategies for the brand’s social media presence. She also contributes to the News & Opinion section of the website. Lisa holds a degree in Biological Sciences with a concentration in genetics, cell, and developmental biology from Arizona State University and has worked in science communication since 2012.

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