Buried underpants and a new definition of kissing win 2026 Ig Nobel prizes

Simms, Chris

3 min read Original article ↗
  • NEWS

The awards highlight weird, funny and improbable research that also makes you think.

By

  1. Chris Simms

    1. Chris Simms is a science writer based in Somerset, UK.

The recognition and prestige of a Nobel prize for groundbreaking work comes with a gold medal and the equivalent of about US$1 million. The parody version, an Ig Nobel prize, devised to celebrate research that makes people laugh, and then think, might not deliver on the cash front, but it does bring considerable renown.

Nature 657, 582-583 (2026)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-02650-x

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