Snobel Prize-2017: flowing cats, snoring medicine and more

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The Harvard University of the United States passed the presentation of the awards of the Ignobelev Prize (Schnebel Prize) for research of questionable scientific value. A team of six researchers received the Peace Prize for researching how playing the DJS musical instrument can help in the treatment of snoring, and cats can be both in solid and in liquid states of aggregation and more.

What cats are more liquid

The prize in physics went to the French scientist Mark-Antoine Fardin, who proved that cats are liquid. The study of Fardin "On the rheology of cats" states that cats can take the form of a tank into which they are immersed, and therefore can be both solid and liquid. Moreover, according to the observations of the scientist, adult cats spread out faster than kittens.

Crocodile hugs

The winners in the field of economics were two Australian researchers. They concluded that fearless hugs with crocodiles make a person more excitable. According to the results of the work, people who were in contact with crocodiles and were not afraid of them, made higher rates at the casino than those who were afraid. The researchers conducted an experiment in which 103 humans took part. He showed that the brain incorrectly interprets the emotional excitement that appeared in some players upon contact with a predator, as the excitement of luck in the game.

How not to spill coffee

Korean researcher Han Ji Won received a prize in the field of hydrodynamics for answering the question of how not to spill coffee. Having filled a glass of wine and a mug with a drink, the scientists subjected the containers to vibrations that imitated a person’s walking. At the same time, the coffee in the glass splashed significantly, with a mug of such problems were not. However, when the intensity of oscillations was doubled, the situation radically changed - the coffee in the glass remained almost immobile, and from time and again it spilled out. The scientist came to the conclusion that the risk of splashing the drink is reduced if you clasp the cup with your palm on top and go backwards.

Why do old people have big ears

The Anatomy Prize was awarded to Briton James Heathcote for researching human ears. The scientist analyzed the size of the ears of two hundred people aged from 30 to 93 years. The work, which was carried out back in 1995, found that after 30 years of life, a person’s ears grow by about 2 mm over 10 years.

Cheese Brain

The prize in the field of medicine went to French neuroscientists, who proved that in the brain people have an area responsible for aversion to cheese. The experiment participants were placed in an MRI scanner and were given a sniff of cheddar, goat cheese and Swiss gruyere. Scientists studied the reaction of their brain and found that the subjects activated elements of one of the brain areas - the basal ganglia - the white ball and the substantia nigra.

Snoring medicine

The world team won the Swiss team of scientists, who found out that playing Australian aboriginal musical instrument - didgeridoo - reduces snoring. Scientists explained this by saying that playing the didgeridoo strengthens the upper respiratory tract. In addition, such musical practices can get rid of sleep apnea, a disease in which breathing stops in a dream.

Why do females have penises

The prize in biology was presented to researchers who found out how penis appeared in female cave insects, and vaginas in males. Researchers note that the penis-shaped process (ginosome) in female insects of the genus Neotrogla up to 15% of total body length. She introduces him into the body of a male when mating through a tubular vagina - the phallus. There are small growths on the ginosome, which, according to scientists, can perform a stimulating function, as well as keep the male during mating, which lasts up to 70 hours. According to researchers, the reason for such changes was the need for females to get the largest possible amount of ejaculate.

How do embryos listen to music

Obstetrics Award Got scientists who have proven that the fetus perceives music better if it is played in the mother's vagina, and not at the surface of the abdomen. To do this, scientists conducted an experiment on 106 women who were on 14-39 weeks of pregnancy. While playing music, researchers monitored the fetus's facial expression using ultrasound.

Bats drink people's blood

The prize in the field of nutrition was received by scientists who found out that small bats gladly drink human blood. Scientists note that usually small bats feed on the blood of birds and occasionally attack cattle. However, after examining the feces of mice living in the forests of northeastern Brazil, the researchers found in them the DNA of chicken and humans. Scientists have linked this discovery with a decrease in the number of wild birds.

Twins and pictures

The prize in the field of cognitive sciences was awarded to a group of researchers who were studying the twins. Scientists conducted an experiment and found that monozygotic twins can not always understand which of them is depicted in the photo. This allowed the researchers to suggest that this may affect the perception of the twins themselves and others.

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