PLEASE FORWARD/POST AS APPROPRIATE ================================================================ mini-Annals of Improbable Research ("mini-AIR") Issue Number 2003-02 February, 2003 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 ================================================================ ----------------------------- 2003-02-01 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2003-02-01 Table of Contents 2003-02-02 Soon 2003-02-03 What's New in the Magazine 2003-02-04 Arithmetic Question 2003-02-05 Gull Drop Poets 2003-02-06 Old Technique Revalidated 2003-02-07 SCIENTIST-OF-THE-MONTH: Wrong 2003-02-08 Wrong P.S. 2003-02-09 Gum Ban Slippage Slippage 2003-02-10 Ig in the UK in March 2003-02-11 Tres Dos Santos 2003-02-12 Gamey Medical Quest 2003-02-13 Turkish Pepper (Hot) Limerick Contest 2003-02-14 BURSTS OF HotAIR: Hair, Scan, Tongue, Thermo, Yucks 2003-02-15 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Nut Reverse Reverse (Maybe) 2003-02-16 Librarian's Lament 2003-02-17 MAY WE RECOMMEND: Shrinks and Hands, Rodents, Sighs 2003-02-18 AIRhead Events 2003-02-19 How to Subscribe to AIR (*) 2003-02-20 Our Address (*) 2003-02-21 Please Forward/Post This Issue! (*) 2003-02-22 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 ---------------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-02 Soon On Friday night, Feb. 14, come to the AIR show at the AAAS annual meeting in Denver. For details, see section 2003-02-18 below. Everyone welcome. Bring friends, students, etc. ==> Last minute as-mini-AIR-goes-to-press alert: Our singer has broken a leg, and cannot perform at the show. If you have some (any) experience singing solo in public and are going to the AAAS meeting, and want to sing, please get in touch ASAP at ---------------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-03 What's New in the Magazine AIR volume 9, number 1 (January/February 2003) is the annual IG NOBEL ISSUE. It will be emerging from the printers in a matter of days. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-04 Arithmetic Question Today's question is: It takes Mr. Rael one week to clone a Dr. Brigitte. It takes Ms. Brigitte one hour to clone one press release. If Mr. Rael keeps cloning Dr. Brigittes, and each Dr. Brigitte keeps cloning press releases, how long will it take Mr. Rael and the Dr. Brigittes to cover the surface of the earth exactly 37 times with press releases? We leave this as an exercise for the reader. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-05 Gull Drop Poets The judges in the first and last annual GULL DROP-CATCH LIMERICK COMPETITION were heartened to see how many people could not stop themselves from composing limericks that explore the research report: "Drop-Catch Behaviour is Play in Herring Gulls, Larus argentatus," Jennifer R. Gamble and Daniel A. Cristol, Animal Behaviour, vol. 63, 2002, pp. 339-45. [for a fuller citation, see last month's mini-AIR] The winners each will receive a free, drop-catchable issue of the Annals of Improbable Research. Here are the poets and their limericks: The winners are INVESTIGATOR JURJEN N.E. BOS: A gull throwing clams on the shore Claims: "Cristol's research is a bore! If it's just a statistic -- Just probabilistic -- It's not as much fun as before." INVESTIGATOR JEFF NEWMAN: The beak-to-clam research is done. Statistical programs were run; There's scant deviation. The determination? That gulls -- they just wanna have fun. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-06 Old Technique Revalidated Investigator Richard Lipp: Just over 20 years ago, in December 1982, I struck up a conversation with a favorite professor of one of my friends. (That friend, Karen Koster, has since gone on to become both a biology professor and a member of the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists.) My friend looked on perplexed as I, a Computer Science major who hadn't seen the inside of a biology classroom since my sophomore year of high school, chatted away so knowingly about the professor's upcoming trip to Central America and the diversity of the varieties of Henway in the area. Able to take it no longer, she finally gave in to temptation and demanded to know "What's a Henway?", enabling the professor and me to respond "about four pounds." ---------------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-07 SCIENTIST-OF-THE-MONTH: Wrong This month's Scientist of the Month is O.M. Wrong, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University College London. Professor Wrong is co-author of "Origin and Fate of Salivary Urea and Ammonia in Man," Clinical Science and Molecular Medicine, vol. 52, no. 1, 1977, pp. 9-17, "Metabolism of Tartrate in Man and Rat," Clinical Science and Molecular Medicine, vol. 54, no. 3,1978, pp. 273-81, and many other classics. It would not be incorrect to say that, in the course of his long career, Professor Wrong has been called "Doctor Wrong" more than forty thousand times. No one thought the lesser of him for it. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-08 Wrong P.S. An addendum to the previous item: Yes, that IS the same O.M. Wrong who co-authored "Ammonia Generation By Incubated Feces," Clinical Science and Molecular Medicine, vol. 50, no. 2, 1976, p. 27, a report which has had a European vogue. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-09 Gum Ban Slippage Slippage Several readers have told us that, despite the report cited here last month, Singapore has not in fact substantially altered its ban on chewing gum. That ban, of course, together with Singapore's bans on feeding pigeons and spitting, won the 1994 Ig Nobel Peace Prize for former prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Our correspondents inform us that chewing gum is now permitted, but only for medicinal reasons. A report in the December 6 issue of Japan Times quotes Professor Tommy Koh, Singapore's trade negotiator: Only 'sugarless gum prescribed by doctors and dentists as having therapeutic and medicinal benefits will be sold in pharmacies,' Professor Koh told reporters. 'It was a difficult compromise.' ---------------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-10 Ig in the UK in March We are pleased to announce that there will be an Ig Nobel / Annals of Improbable Research tour of five or so cities in the UK during National Science week, which commences March 7. AIR editor Marc Abrahams, an assortment of genuine Ig Nobel Prize winners, and other special guests will be doing public shows in London, Edinburgh, etc. For details, see section 2003-02-18 below. The tour is co-sponsored jointly by the British Association for the Advancement of Science and by the Times Higher Education Supplement. [NOTE: The aforementioned AIR editor will be staying in London for several days after the tour. If you are in London and would like to host an Improbable Research talk the week of March 16, please get in touch with him ASAP at . Ditto if you would are in Barcelona and would like a talk a few days later.] ---------------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-11 Tres Dos Santos A trio of Dos Santoses have turned up in the Multiplicity of Monikers Program, which asks what is the most number of co-authors (of a single research paper) with the same family name. Investigator K. Danowski turned up a the following multi-Dos Santos paper: "Free-Grown Polypyrrole Thin Films as Aroma Sensors," J.E.G. de Souza, F.L. dos Santos, B.B. Neto, C.G. dos Santos, M.V.B. dos Santos, and C.P. de Melo, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, vol. 88, no. 3, February 10, 2003, pp. 246-59. ---------------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-12 Gamey Medical Quest We invite you to join in the hunt for medical research reports that contain detailed instructions for playing children's games. INVESTIGATOR PETE TWIGG devised the notion, and sent us this note: "You may be interested to read this insightful research paper in which Alastair Davidson discusses the nervous stimulation pathways involved in a game of rock-paper-scissors. 'Rock-Paper-Scissors' A.W. Davidson, Injury, vol. 34, no. 1, January 2003, pp 61-63. "The paper benefits from useful photographs of the different hand positions for 'rock', 'paper' and 'scissors'. My favorite bit is 'Fig. 3. Scissors: the ulnar nerve', with accompanying photo. I would be interested to know of any other medical research publications that provide instructions for children's games." If you know of another such medical report that INCLUDES DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS for a children's game, please send the citation to: GAMEY MEDICAL QUEST c/o ---------------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-13 Turkish Pepper (Hot) Limerick Contest We invite you to enter the first and last annual TURKISH PEPPER (HOT) LIMERICK COMPETITION, for the best (NEWLY composed!) limerick that elucidates this research report, which was brought to our attention by investigator Danys Rocha: "Turkish Pepper (Extra Hot)," A. Woywodt, A. Herrmann, M. Choi, U. Goebel, and F.C. Luft, Postgraduate Medical Journal, vol. 76, no. 897, July 2000, pp. 426-8. The authors, who are at Humboldt- University, Berlin, Germany, report that: A 38 year old female office worker was admitted with a newly discovered blood pressure of 250/110 mm Hg. Evaluation for secondary forms of hypertension was negative and treatment was begun.... presence of an aldosterone-like activity was suspected. Eventually, the patient confessed to abusing "Turkish Pepper", a brand of Scandinavian liquorice candies and "Fisherman's Friend", another brand of liquorice candies, concurrently. After eliminating liquorice from her diet, the hypertension disappeared thus allowing her antihypertensive treatment to be stopped. 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, peppery issue of the Annals of Improbable Research. Send entries (one entry per entrant) to: TURKISH PEPPER (HOT) LIMERICK CONTEST c/o ---------------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-14 BURSTS OF HotAIR: Hair, Scan, Tongue, Thermo, Yucks Here are concise, flighty mentions of some of the features we've posted on HotAIR since last month's mini-AIR came out. See the whole list by clicking "WHAT'S NEW" at the web site, or go to: ==> Many New Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club members ==> HMO-NO: Scan-tastic! ==> Catz: Got Your Tongue ==> Sheepish Thermodynamics runners-up ==> AIR Vents ==> Somber Analysis of Laughter THESE, AND MORE, ARE ON HOTAIR AT ----------------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-15 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Nut Reverse Reverse (Maybe) 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, which this month is a combination affair: "Reversing the Brazil-Nut Effect: Competition Between Percolation and Condensation," A.P.J. Breu, H.-M. Ensner, C.A. Kruelle, and I. Rehberg, Physical Review Letters, vol. 90, 2003. (Thanks to Juan Domenech and numerous other readers for bringing this to our attention.) This reverses, to some extent, the findings reported earlier in... "Reverse Brazil Nut Problem: Competition Between Percolation and Condensation," Daniel C. Hong, Paul V. Quinn, and Stefan Luding, Physical Review Letters, vol. 86, no. 15, April 9, 2001, pp. 3423-6. This elucidates certain questions spurred by... "Why the Brazil Nuts Are on Top: Size Segregation of Particulate Matter by Shaking," Anthony Rosato, Katherine J. Strandburg, Friedrich Prinz, Robert H. Swendsen, Physical Review Letters, vol. 58, 1987, pp. 1038-40. The interested reader may also wish to consult... "Does the Reverse Brazil Nut Problem Exist?" G.A. Canul-Chay et al., Physical Review Letters, vol. 89, October 9, 2002. ----------------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-16 Librarian's Lament INVESTIGATOR STEVE MURDEN, who is possessed of a Master of Science degree in Library Science, is not afraid neither to invite trouble nor to deal with same when it arrives. He writes: "I regularly read mini-AIR. In the recurring feature 'RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT' you frequently use the following sentence: 'Your librarian will enjoy being asked for a copy.' Speaking as a librarian, I would like to say that I wouldn't enjoy that very much. What I WOULD enjoy is people with multiple, advanced degrees who use their library/research skills to find the articles themselves." ----------------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-17 MAY WE RECOMMEND: Shrinks and Hands, Rodents, Sighs LEVO-DEXTROUS SEASONAL ADMISSION DISORDER "Hand Preference and Length of Psychiatric Hospital Stay by Month of Admission," C.S. Mirabile, Jr. and M.H. Teicher, Perceptual and Motor Skills, vol. 95, no. 3, part 1, December 2002, pp. 835-6. The authors are at McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA. (Thanks to S. Wolfowitz for bringing this to our attention.) TASTINESS, TEXTURE, AND APPEARANCE IGNORED "Odour in Mice," W. Lane-Petter, Nature, vol. 216, no. 117, November 1967, p. 794. (Thanks to Nick K. Kennedy for bringing this to our attention.) THE SEVENTIES: SIGH "The Present Status of Sighing," M.I. Gold, Anesthesiology, vol. 33, no. 5, November 1970, pp. 565-7. (Thanks to Louise Calame for bringing this to our attention.) ------------------------------------------------------------ 2003-02-18 AIRhead Events ==> For details and updates see ==> Want to host an event? 617-491-4437 AAAS ANNUAL MEETING, DENVER --FRI EVENING, FEBRUARY 14, 2003 7:30 PM, Hyatt Regency Denver, in the Moulin Rouge room. The annual special Annals of Improbable Research session at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Featuring: * AIR Editor MARC ABRAHAMS * 2001 Ig Nobel Biology Prize winner BUCK WEIMER * 1994 Ig Nobel Medicine Prize co-winner RICHARD DART * EMILY ROSA, LINDA ROSA, and LARRY SARNER, who will review some very odd goings-on in medicine and education * Physicist ROBERT PARK, who will review what has been a very, very odd year in science * The Ig Mystery Singers, Pianist MARY MILLER, et al singing songs from Ig Nobel ceremonies and others TBA "CAFE SCIENTIFIQUE," CAMBRIDGE, MA -- MON, MAR 3, 2003 6:00 PM Red Line restaurant/bar 59 JFK St, Cambridge, MA INFO: http://www.newscientist.com/hottopics/cafescientifique ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND -- MAR 7-16, 2003 IG NOBEL / AIR Tour as part of the UK's NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK. AIR editor MARC ABRAHAMS and numerous IG NOBEL WINNERS will do public shows. The tentative schedule is: LONDON -- FRI, MAR 7, 2003 MANCHESTER -- MON, MAR 10, 2003 EDINBURGH -- TUES, MAR 11, 2003 LEICESTER -- WED, MAR 12, 2003 BRISTOL -- FRI, MAR 14, 2003 The tour is co-sponsored by the British Assn for the Advancement of Science and by the Times Higher Education Supplement. Details to be announced soon. INFO: Annette Smith, , 020 7973 3075 MICHIGAN TECH, HOUGHTON, MI -- TUES, APRIL 8, 2003 8:00 PM, Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts INFO: Valerie Pegg, vepegg@mtu.edu, 906-487-2844 http://www.greatevents.mtu.edu/main.html THIRTEENTH 1ST ANNUAL IG NOBEL PRIZE CEREMONY - THU, OCT 2, 2003 Sanders Theatre, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA INFO: -------------------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-19 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 ----------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-20 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: --------------------------- 2003-02-21 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 DISTRIBUTIVE EDITOR: Robin Pearce 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 2003, Annals of Improbable Research ----------------------------------------------------- 2003-02-22 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 ============================================================