Additional Coverage:
- Scientists studying cockroach milk, nose-blowing win 2026 Ig Nobel prizes for quirky science (pbs.org)
In a departure from tradition, the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony was held outside the United States for the first time, taking place this year at the Zurich Convention Center in Switzerland. The event, known for honoring quirky and imaginative scientific research, celebrated ten teams whose work ranged from studying cockroach milk to analyzing soil health using buried underwear.
Organized by the Annals of Improbable Research, a digital magazine, the ceremony shifted to Europe after 35 years in the U.S. due to concerns about visa accessibility for attendees. The Zurich event featured researchers such as Matilda Brindle and Stuart West from the University of Oxford, Catherine F.
Talbot of the Florida Institute of Technology, who explored the evolutionary history of kissing, and the late Dr. Tokuji Unno, who studied the mechanics of blowing one’s nose.
One particularly unusual project involved burying 1,000 pairs of underwear across more than 25 countries to observe how soil organisms contribute to decomposition. In keeping with longstanding tradition, the audience launched paper airplanes onto the stage to inaugurate the festivities.
Looking ahead, the organizers plan to hold future ceremonies in Zurich and other European locations, with next year’s event scheduled for Antwerp, Belgium. Previous ceremonies were hosted by prestigious U.S. institutions including Harvard, MIT, and Boston University; however, there are currently no plans to return stateside.
Marc Abrahams, the event’s master of ceremonies and editor of the magazine, explained the move by citing safety concerns for guests traveling to the U.S. The Ig Nobel Prizes continue to offer a playful counterpoint to the serious Nobel Prizes, which will be announced in early October.