Does painting cows with stripes prevent fly bites? Researchers who studied this wins Ig Nobel prize
Share this @internewscast.com

BOSTON (AP) — A team of Japanese researchers considered whether painting cows with zebra-like stripes could deter flies from biting them. Meanwhile, another team from Africa and Europe explored the pizza preferences of lizards.

Those researchers were honored Thursday in Boston with an Ig Nobel, the prize for comical scientific achievement.

“When conducting this experiment, I hoped to win the Ig Nobel. It’s a dream come true. Unbelievable, just unbelievable,” remarked Tomoki Kojima. His team applied tape to Japanese beef cows and then painted white stripes on them. Consequently, fewer flies were drawn to these cows, and the animals appeared less disturbed by the insects.

Despite the findings, Kojima admitted it might be a challenge to apply this approach on a large-scale.

This year’s laureates, celebrated across 10 categories, included a European team that discovered consuming alcohol might enhance one’s ability to speak a foreign language, as well as a researcher who spent decades studying fingernail growth.

“Every monumental discovery seemed odd and laughable initially,” said Marc Abrahams, the master of ceremonies and editor of the magazine, in an e-mail interview before the awards event. “The same holds for every trivial discovery. The Ig Nobel Prizes honor all these findings because, at first glance, who can truly tell?”

The 35th annual Ig Nobel prize event is organized by the Annals of Improbable Research, a digital publication highlighting research that provokes laughter and thought. It typically takes place weeks before the actual Nobel Prizes are revealed.

The winner’s celebration was set for Thursday night at Boston University, where they were expected to be showered with paper airplanes and celebrated by actual Nobel laureates such as Esther Duflo and Eric Maskin. Duflo was honored for her experimental approach to mitigating global poverty, while Maskin was recognized for his work on mechanism design theory.

A mini-opera about gastroenterologists and their patients, inspired by this year’s theme which is digestion, was also planned.

Other winners this year included a group from India which studied whether foul-smelling shoes influenced someone’s experience using a shoe rack and researchers from the United States and Israel who explored whether eating Teflon is a good way to increase food volume. There was an award for a dead researcher who spent 35 years studying fingernail growth and a winning study from a team of international scientists that looked at whether giving alcohol to bats impaired their ability to fly.

“It’s a great honor for us,” said Francisco Sanchez, one of the researchers from Colombia who studied the drunken bats. “It’s really good. You can see that scientists are not really square and super serious and can have some fun while showing interesting science.”

Sanchez said their research found that the bats weren’t fans of rotten fruit, which often has higher concentrations of alcohol. Maybe for good reason. When they were forced to eat it, their flying and echolocation suffered, he said.

“They actually got drunk similar to what happens to us,” Sanchez said. “When you take some ethanol, you move slower and your speech is impaired.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
NTSB shares early findings in crash that killed country songwriter Brett James

Breaking: NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on Fatal Crash Involving Renowned Country Songwriter Brett James

A preliminary report has surfaced, shedding light on the tragic accident that…
Photos of Eitan Levi, Uriel Baruch, and Tamir Nimrodi over photo of Israeli flag

IDF Discovers Anomalies: Hamas Returns Unidentified Body, Sparking Mystery Among Hostage Families

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Tuesday that one of the…
Shooting at Oklahoma State University residence hall leaves multiple victims

Multiple Injuries Reported in Oklahoma State University Dorm Shooting Incident

A shooting incident at an Oklahoma State University (OSU) dormitory resulted in…
State Department warns Hamas may violate ceasefire with attack on Palestinian civilians

State Department Alerts: Potential Ceasefire Breach by Hamas Threatens Palestinian Civilians

On Saturday, the U.S. Department of State issued a warning about “credible…
NFL Week 8 odds, picks

Week 8 NFL Predictions: Expert Odds and Top Picks

Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission…
Camp Pendleton: I-5 freeway closed due to Marines anniversary event in Southern California

Camp Pendleton: I-5 Freeway Closure Announced for Marines Anniversary Celebration in Southern California

In a significant disruption, a 17-mile portion of the I-5 freeway in…
'No Kings' protest in St. Augustine

St. Augustine’s ‘No Kings’ Protest Draws Attention: Citizens Rally for Equality and Justice

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Protesters gathered in St. Augustine on Saturday as…
Israel strikes Gaza after it says Hamas attacked across ceasefire line

Israel Launches Retaliatory Strikes on Gaza Following Alleged Hamas Ceasefire Breach

Israel launched strikes on targets in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday…
M.C.I. Foods recalls 91,585 pounds of burritos for Listeria risk

Urgent Recall: M.C.I. Foods Pulls 91,585 Pounds of Burritos Due to Listeria Contamination Risk

The recall affects three distinct brands: El Mas Fino, Los Cabos, and…
Trump immigration crackdown may eliminate 15M workers by 2035: Study

Study Projects Potential Loss of 15 Million Workers by 2035 Under Trump Immigration Policies

According to a newly released study, President Trump’s immigration policies are projected…
Halloween 2025: Mariano's shares spooky Halloween recipes to help you become the ghostest with the mostest

Spooktacular Halloween 2025: Mariano’s Unveils Creative Recipes to Elevate Your Festive Feast

CHICAGO (WLS) — The countdown to Halloween is on, with less than…
Russian mercenaries replace Western forces as ISIS surges across Africa's Sahel region

Russian Mercenaries Step In as ISIS Resurgence Challenges Security in Africa’s Sahel

Experts suggest that the exit of U.S. and European troops from African…