At Boston University, a paper-plane-strewn stage set the scene for this year’s Ig Nobel Prize ceremony — an annual celebration of unconventional research. Created in 1991 by Marc Abrahams of the Annals of Improbable Research, the Ig Nobels highlight discoveries that sound absurd at first but reveal deeper truths when examined closely.
From pizza-eating lizards to pasta physics
Among the ten awards handed out in 2025 was a Nutrition Prize for fieldwork in Togo showing that rainbow lizards have a clear preference for four-cheese pizza over other options. Another highlight was the Physics Prize, given to an international team led by Giacomo Bartolucci at the University of Barcelona. They modelled the phase transitions in cacio e pepe sauce, explaining why it sometimes clumps and offering a reproducible method for a smooth, creamy pasta.
Language skills and a little liquid courage
The Peace Prize went to a group of psychologists who found that a small dose of alcohol can help people speak a foreign language more fluently — or at least sound more convincing. The researchers stress the study was about perception and confidence, not a substitute for learning.
Why bats steer clear of fermented fruit
Continuing the alcohol theme, the Aviation Prize recognised work showing that bats exposed to alcohol lose precision in flight and echolocation, clarifying why they avoid overly ripe fruit. “Science is serious, but it’s also fun,” said co-author Berry Pinshow of Ben-Gurion University when the award was announced.
Celebrating odd questions
Other winners included experiments on zebra-striped cows to deter flies, garlicky breast milk, and even an investigation into whether adding Teflon-like particles to food could increase volume without calories. All of them embody the Ig Nobel motto: to make people laugh first, then think.
A high-energy ceremony
Real Nobel laureates handed out the prizes as each team raced through a one-minute explanation of their work. The audience of about 1,000 cheered and launched paper planes — a ritual as established as the awards themselves.
Why it matters
Far from mocking science, the Ig Nobels showcase curiosity and creativity. By rewarding research that’s accessible, surprising and evidence-based, the prizes encourage the public to see science as part of everyday life, not just something happening in distant labs.
