2023 Ig Nobel prize winners

[MillCreek]

https://newatlas.com/science/2023-ig-nobel-prize-winners/?utm_source=New+Atlas+Subscribers&utm_campaign=d3dc732624-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_09_15_01_45&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-d3dc732624-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

https://improbable.com/ig/2023-ceremony/

My favorite:

MEDICINE PRIZE
Christine Pham, Bobak Hedayati, Kiana Hashemi, Ella Csuka, Tiana Mamaghani, Margit Juhasz, Jamie Wikenheiser, and Natasha Mesinkovska, for using cadavers to explore whether there is an equal number of hairs in each of a person’s two nostrils. Don't miss their riveting work “The Quantification and Measurement of Nasal Hairs in a Cadaveric Population.”

[K Frame]

Not sure why that's an Ignoble prize. That research will have far reaching implications to undertakers world wide.

[230RN]

Not sure why that's an Ignoble prize. That research will have far reaching implications to undertakers world wide.

Not to mention coroners for identifying corpses.  I wonder if they acquired information on nose hair patterns as well.  Might be as significant an identifier as fingerprints or retinal scans.  With that many co-authors, I would expect someone would have brought up that subject.

However, that information might be reserved for a later paper.  Two papers are better than only one to establish standing in the scientific community.  And three is better than two, und so weiter.

It's almost as good as number of patents as a score keeper.

Terry, 230RN

[WLJ]

Not to mention coroners for identifying corpses.  I wonder if they acquired information on nose hair patterns as well.  Might be as significant an identifier as fingerprints or retinal scans.  With that many co-authors, I would expect someone would have brought up that subject.

Terry, 230RN

ATF will start requiring a inside of your nose print on all new tax forms.

[cordex]

ATF will start requiring a inside of your nose print on all new tax forms.

Does smearing boogers on forms before mailing count?

[230RN]

And someone (maybe them) will develop a nose hair sensing device.

Gives new meaning to the expression "Up your nose with a rubber hose."

[MillCreek]

Does smearing boogers on forms before mailing count?

I would never give the Feds such easy access to my DNA.  Let them work for it by going through the household garbage or something.

[230RN]

It may come to the point where flicking a booger on some jerk's windshield might ID you as good as a surveillance camera.

"There it is, right there, Officer."

"Don't touch it.  I'll call in for one of our Booger people to lift it and get it right to the lab."

 

[MillCreek]

There are already cities, HOAs, and the like who are sampling dog poop for DNA and matching it up to the dog and owner so they can be fined for ignoring scoop after your pet laws.

[230RN]

There are already cities, HOAs, and the like who are sampling dog poop for DNA and matching it up to the dog and owner so they can be fined for ignoring scoop after your pet laws.

Benefit ÷ cost > 1 in those cases?  Or is it just to provide warning to others?

Terry frowns in doubt.

Once they get a sample off the ground, how do they get a sample from the suspected miscreant owner/dog to match up?   Do they follow them around and wait for another poop to occur and grab that?  In that case, there's the prima facia evidence needed right then and there of a violation and they shouldn't have to go through a DNA check in the first place.

Hmmmm.... what am I missing? :)

Terry, 230RN

[cordex]

Benefit ÷ cost > 1 in those cases?  Or is it just to provide warning to others?

Budget>God's * someone else's(money)

[MillCreek]

https://www.pooprints.com/

https://www.mrdogpoop.com/

https://www.denverpost.com/2019/12/07/denver-apartment-complexes-dna-dog-poop-pet-owners/

[230RN]

"We have perfected waste collection, meaning your samples don’t need to be kept at a certain temperature or returned to our lab in a certain amount of time."

Oh, so sample providing is a condition of residency/occupancy/local citizenship.

Hard to believe, but there it is, so thanks.

Chain of evidence questions arise.  What if a sample of "your" dog's doo-doo is actually a sample from your neighbor's yard or randomly picked up from a dog park?  Must you attest to or affirm the validity of your submitted sample?  Fifth Amendment?

Obvious reaction:  "Holy crap."

Seems like a lot of bureaucratic nonsense, all in all.

I'm not sure if this DNA dealie is hilarious or tragic.

Terry, 230RN

[MechAg94]

Budget>God's * someone else's(money)

It would be cheaper and easier to set up cameras. 

[Cliffh]

I'm not sure if this DNA dealie is hilarious or tragic.

Terry, 230RN

I'm going to go with "tragic" for $100 Alex.

Chain of custody, where was the sample obtained, etc.  Should be a few questions asked about any fines assessed.