Kicker: Ignoble inquiries

NICK EICHER, HOST: You’ve heard of the Nobel Prize.

Well, move over, No-bell. Make room for the Ig-no-bell Prize. It’s a parody that celebrates unconventional science discoveries by our best and brightest.

PRESENTER: The chemistry and geology prize! Awarded to Jan Zalasiewicz for explaining why many scientists like to lick rocks!

Easy! Because a wet surface reveals so much more than a dry one.

Overall ten prizes just like these.

PRESENTER: The literature prize is awarded for studying the sensations people feel when they repeat a single word many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many times.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: And of course our winner is ready, ready, ready...

PRESENTER: Thank you thank you thank you.

EICHER: And then my favorite: Experiments on how electrified chopsticks can change the taste of food.

REICHARD: Makes ya laugh, then makes ya think.

EICHER: It’s The World and Everything in It.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.