The Statistical Physics Of Ponytails And Other Ig Nobel Winners

Ponytail Flickr/mhiguera

Science is our key to unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and also occasionally the key to unlocking the brain waves of dead salmon. Thus: another year, another announcement of the Ig Nobel prize winners, the men and women behind the most unlikely, hilarious, thought-provoking science of the year. The titles of the papers alone are great enough--"Shape of a Ponytail and the Statistical Physics of Hair Fiber Bundles," "Walking With Coffee: Why Does It Spill?"--but we're also particularly fond of this year's winner for literature: "The US Government General Accountability Office, for issuing a report about reports about reports that recommends the preparation of a report about the report about reports about reports." Read them all here.