Science
Ig Nobel Prizes honor unconventional science in first ceremony held outside the US
The 36th annual awards in Zurich recognized research on cockroach milk, nose-blowing, and buried underwear after organizers relocated the event over visa concerns.
The short version
- Ten research teams received the 36th annual Ig Nobel Prizes at a ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland, celebrating unusual scientific studies.
- The event moved out of the United States for the first time in 35 years because organizers cited visa and travel difficulties for international attendees.
- Honored research included studies on cockroach milk, the evolutionary history of kissing, nose-blowing mechanics, and soil health tracked through decomposing underwear.
- Organizers plan to host future ceremonies across European cities, with Antwerp, Belgium, selected for 2027, and have no immediate plans to return to the U.S.
Key facts
- The 36th annual Ig Nobel Prizes honored ten research teams at a convention center in Zurich, Switzerland.[ABC News]
- The ceremony was held outside the United States for the first time in 35 years due to visa and travel concerns for international participants.[ABC News]
- Winning projects included research on cockroach milk, the evolution of kissing, the science of nose-blowing, and an analysis of soil health using 1,000 pairs of buried underwear across more than 25 countries.[ABC News]
- Organizers announced that the 2027 ceremony will take place in Antwerp, Belgium, as part of a plan to rotate future events among European cities.[ABC News]