Unbelievable Scientific Discoveries That Will Make You Laugh and Think

On September 13th, the Ig Nobel Prize was awarded once again, and to celebrate, ZAMONA has gathered some of the most unusual scientific discoveries from over the years.

This award honors research that "makes people first laugh, then think." While many seem humorous at first glance, they often carry deeper significance.

Obstetrics

1. Fetuses Respond Better to Music Played Vaginally than Abdominally

Spanish researcher Marisa López-Teijón investigated how unborn babies react to music played either through a speaker placed on the belly or inserted vaginally. The findings revealed that fetuses responded more actively when the music was transmitted vaginally.

Previously, it was believed that fetuses could perceive sounds starting from the 26th week of pregnancy. However, when sound was introduced vaginally, responses were observed as early as the 16th week through facial and body movements.

In-utero music exposure is thought to aid in developing speech skills. To initiate this learning process earlier, the Babypod vaginal player was developed.

Anatomy

2. Human Ears Grow Approximately 0.22 mm Every Year

It's well-known that ears continue growing throughout life. British researcher James Heathcote measured this growth and published his findings in 1995 in the article "Why Do Old People Have Big Ears?" He measured the ears of over 200 elderly men and found that after age 30, ears grow about 2 mm every decade. For women, this growth is less noticeable due to smaller ear size and hair coverage.

Physics

3. Cats Exhibit Fluid-Like Properties

While funny images of cats melting into containers circulate online, physicist Marc-Antoine Fardin seriously studied their fluidity. From a physics perspective, cats can behave like liquids, adapting their shape to fit containers, and can even exhibit gas-like states by filling spaces entirely.

Interestingly, adult cats develop better transformation abilities, enabling them to conform more quickly to their surroundings.

4. Mammals Spend About 21 Seconds Urinating

Research shows that the duration of urination is remarkably consistent across mammal species, regardless of size. Studies involving elephants, camels, goats, dogs, and rats found the average urination time to be 21 seconds, with a variance of about 13 seconds either way.

5. Walking on Water Could Be Possible on the Moon

A team including Russian physicist Yuri Ivanenko adapted mathematical models describing the basilisk lizard’s ability to run across water. Their experiments revealed that under lunar gravity, humans might also run on water surfaces without sinking.

6. Wearing Socks Over Shoes Increases Traction on Ice

New Zealand researchers discovered that putting socks over shoes improves grip on icy surfaces, reducing slip risks. In tests involving 30 participants—half wearing socks over their shoes—two people slipped in each group, but only one fall occurred, and that was among those without sock protection.

7. Beer Foam Follows the Law of Radioactive Decay

Scientists proved that beer foam collapses exponentially, first rapidly and then more slowly. As the foam diminishes, the visible beer volume increases, altering the liquid-to-foam ratio. Foam volume decreases according to the exponential formula 1 − 1/e, though not all beer types conform perfectly to this behavior.

Cognition, Perception, and Psychology

8. Identical Twins Often Cannot Distinguish Themselves in Photos

A scientific study cleared the confusion for those who struggle to tell twins apart. It turns out that even the twins themselves often cannot differentiate between their own and their identical sibling’s photos. While face recognition is typically straightforward, identical twins perceive their images similarly.

9. Night Owls Are More Prone to Narcissism and Psychotic Traits

Researchers studying 263 individuals found that those who stay up late tend to exhibit more traits from the 'dark triad' of personality: narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. Night owls also frequently change romantic partners and are more inclined to deceive.

Healthcare and Medicine

10. The Most Painful Bee Stings Occur in the Nostril, Upper Lip, and Penis

Biologist Michael Smith tested bee sting pain on himself across 25 body parts, rating the pain on a scale from 1 to 10. The nostril, upper lip, and penis scored 9.0, 8.7, and 7.3 respectively, indicating these areas are the most sensitive to bee stings.

11. Dried Pork Can Stop Nosebleeds

An accidental discovery at a Michigan children's hospital found that applying strips of dried pork on a cotton swab effectively stopped persistent nosebleeds in a child with Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia after ten days of bleeding. The salt and pork likely cause swelling that blocks blood vessels.

12. Expensive Placebos Are More Effective Than Cheap Ones

In a study involving 82 students, all received wrist shocks followed by placebo pills advertised as either costing $2.50 or 10 cents. Despite identical inert ingredients, 85% of those who believed they took the expensive pill reported pain relief compared to 61% in the cheaper group.

13. Hiccups Can Be Cured with Rectal Massage

Medical experiments demonstrated that a 30-second rectal massage can effectively stop hiccups.

14. London Taxi Drivers Have Enlarged Brain Regions

The need to navigate complex city routes and memorize numerous landmarks leads to increased gray matter in the posterior hippocampus of London taxi drivers, the brain area associated with spatial memory.

15. Roller Coasters Help Pass Kidney Stones

Sudden drops and climbs on roller coasters can aid kidney stone passage, effective in about 70% of cases. The study found that the best seats for this purpose are at the back of the ride. Trials with 3D kidney models and patients confirmed this finding.

Biology

16. Male Australian Beetles Mistake Brown Bottles for Females

Researchers discovered that male beetles of a certain Australian species attempt to mate with brown, dimpled beer bottles that resemble females in appearance.

17. Named Cows Produce More Milk Than Nameless Ones

Studies confirm that animals respond positively to human attention. Farms where cows were given names recorded an average milk increase of 258 liters. These cows were less fearful and more docile around people.

18. Viagra Helps Hamsters Overcome Jet Lag

Aviation category winners demonstrated that sildenafil, an active ingredient in erectile dysfunction medication, accelerates the adjustment of circadian rhythms after time zone changes, based on experiments with hamsters.

19. Herrings Communicate Using Gas Sounds

Scientists found that herrings produce chirping and clicking noises by expelling gases from their swim bladders via the anus when changing depth or feeling threatened, effectively communicating through these sounds.

Chemistry

20. Saliva Is an Effective Surface Cleaner

Researchers tested five 16th-century gilded sculptures, cleaning them with various solvents and saliva. Thanks to the enzyme alpha-amylase, saliva outperformed other cleaning agents as a natural cleaner.

Nutrition

21. Human Bodies Are Surprisingly Low in Calories

A team from the University of Brighton studied the relationship between hunger and cannibalism by assessing the caloric value of Paleolithic human bodies. They concluded that humans were not very nutritious, and traditional foods were far better at satisfying hunger.

Economics

22. Voodoo Dolls Help Relieve Aggression

Scientists demonstrated that taking out frustrations on voodoo dolls representing difficult bosses provides psychological relief. Participants who burned or poked these dolls reported feeling a sense of justice restored.

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