Ten research teams received Ig Nobel Prizes last week at a ceremony held outside the United States for the first time in the awards’ 35-year history, citing travel restrictions and safety concerns for international attendees. The event took place at a convention center in Zurich, Switzerland, marking a significant shift from previous ceremonies traditionally held at U.S. universities.
Organized by the Annals of Improbable Research, the Ig Nobel Prizes recognize unusual and imaginative scientific achievements that often blend humor with genuine inquiry. Among the honored research projects were studies on cockroach milk, the evolutionary history of kissing, and the decomposition of buried underwear across multiple countries.
One team, including Matilda Brindle and Stuart West from the University of Oxford, was recognized, as was Catherine F. Talbot from the Florida Institute of Technology, who reconstructed how kissing evolved. The late Dr. Tokuji Unno was also acknowledged posthumously for his study on the physics of nose blowing. An unusual investigation involved burying 1,000 pairs of underwear in over 25 countries to analyze the role of soil creatures in decomposition.
The ceremony maintained its signature quirky traditions, such as attendees launching paper airplanes toward the stage to commence the event.
Marc Abrahams, the event’s master of ceremonies and editor of the Annals of Improbable Research, explained in an email that increasing difficulties in obtaining travel visas and concerns over visitors’ safety led to relocating the event outside the United States. “During the past year, it has become unsafe for our guests to visit the country,” he said.
Looking ahead, organizers intend to hold future ceremonies across various European cities, with the 2027 event scheduled for Antwerp, Belgium. Although the awards originated and took place for decades in the U.S., there are no immediate plans to return.
The Ig Nobel Prizes are distinct from the Nobel Prizes, which will be announced in early October. While the former celebrate scientific creativity and humor, the latter honor significant achievements in science, literature, and peace.