Ig Nobel Awards Move to Zurich Over US Visa Concerns

The Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, which honors quirky and innovative scientific research, was held outside the US for the first time in 35 years, taking place in Zurich, Switzerland, due to safety concerns related to visa issues. On Thursday, ten research teams received awards for their studies, which included topics like cockroach milk, using buried underwear to check soil health, the origins of kissing, and how blowing your nose works. Notable winners included Matilda Brindle and Stuart West from the University of Oxford, Catherine F. Talbot from the Florida Institute of Technology, and the late Dr. Tokuji Unno. Organized by the Annals of Improbable Research, the winners were presented with unique trophies that looked like a mix of a mushroom and a foot. The event also featured Nobel laureates such as Esther Duflo and Michel Mayor, highlighting the fun side of science.