WEIRD STUFF Scientist wins award for cockroach milk

Scientist wins award for cockroach milk

Researchers who studied cockroach milk and buried thousands of pairs of underwear in soil have been rewarded for their bizarre scientific work.

Ten research teams were honoured recently at the satirical Ig Nobel Prizes, which celebrated unusual and imaginative contributions to science.

But this year’s ceremony was unusual for another reason.

For the first time in its 35-year history, the awards were held outside the United States, with organisers moving the event to Europe amid concerns about guests being able to obtain US visas.

The ceremony was held at a convention centre in Zurich, Switzerland, where winners received custom trophies resembling a cross between a mushroom and a human foot.

In the case of cockroach milk, researchers have said the milk of a pregnant cockroach packs more protein than cow’s milk.

Among the winners were researchers from the University of Oxford and the Florida Institute of Technology, who reconstructed the evolutionary history of kissing.

Another award went to the late Dr Tokuji Unno for investigating the science of blowing one’s nose.

And then there was the underwear experiment.

One research team buried 1,000 pairs of underwear in more than 25 countries to examine how creatures living in soil helped the garments decompose.

The awards are organised by the digital magazine Annals of Improbable Research, which said the ceremony was moved to Europe after concerns about the safety and ability of international guests to travel to the US.

“During the past year, it has become unsafe for our guests to visit the country,” editor and master of ceremonies Marc Abrahams told The Associated Press in an email in March.

Girl Scouts make tasty dog treats

The Girl Scouts of the USA are adding their first-ever cookies for dogs to their famous line-up, with the new treats set to go on sale in January.

The blueberry muffin-flavoured cookies, called Patch Pals, were developed in partnership with Bark, a New York-based company that sells dog treats and toys.

But pooches will have to go online to get their paws on them, as Patch Pals will be sold exclusively online.

Also joining the Girl Scout cookie line-up in January are Sparkables, the organisation’s first allergy-friendly cookie.

The crunchy oatmeal cookies, made with chocolate chips and coloured sprinkles, were developed with New Jersey-based Partake Foods.

The Girl Scouts said Sparkables are made in a facility designed to avoid nine major allergens, including eggs, milk, peanuts, wheat, tree nuts and sesame.

The organisation said the new cookies were inspired by Scouts who wanted more people, and pets, to be able to participate in the cookie programme.

The Girl Scouts have sold cookies as a troop fundraiser since 1917 and now sell about 200 million cookies annually.