Annals of Improbable Research
Encyclopedia
The Annals of Improbable Research (AIR) is a bi-monthly magazine
devoted to scientific humor, in the form of a satirical
take on the standard academic journal. AIR, published six times a year since 1995, usually showcases at least one piece of scientific research being done on a strange or unexpected topic, but most of their articles concern real or fictional absurd experiments, such as a comparison of apples and oranges
using infrared spectroscopy
. Other features include such things as ratings of the cafeteria
s at scientific institutes, fake classified and advertisements for a medical plan called HMO-NO, and a very odd letters page.
Occasional AIR articles are factual and illuminating, if a bit offbeat. For example, in 2003 researcher-documentary producer Nick T. Spark
wrote about the background and history of Murphy's Law
in a four-part article, "Why Everything You know About Murphy's Law is Wrong". It was revised, expanded and later published in June 2006 as the book A History of Murphy's Law.
AIR awards the annual science Ig Nobel Prize
s, for ten achievements that "first make people laugh, and then make them think". AIR also runs the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists.
(JIR) was founded by Alex Kohn and Harry Lipkin in 1955, but most of its editorial staff, including editor Marc Abrahams
, left after the magazine was bought by publisher George Scherr in 1994. Scherr filed a number of court actions against AIR, alleging that it was deceptively similar to the Journal and that it had stolen the name "Ig Nobel Prize," but these actions were unsuccessful.
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
devoted to scientific humor, in the form of a satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
take on the standard academic journal. AIR, published six times a year since 1995, usually showcases at least one piece of scientific research being done on a strange or unexpected topic, but most of their articles concern real or fictional absurd experiments, such as a comparison of apples and oranges
Apples and oranges
A comparison of apples and oranges occurs when two items or groups of items are compared that cannot be validly compared.The idiom, comparing apples and oranges, refers to the apparent differences between items which are popularly thought to be incomparable or incommensurable, such as apples and...
using infrared spectroscopy
Infrared spectroscopy
Infrared spectroscopy is the spectroscopy that deals with the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, that is light with a longer wavelength and lower frequency than visible light. It covers a range of techniques, mostly based on absorption spectroscopy. As with all spectroscopic...
. Other features include such things as ratings of the cafeteria
Cafeteria
A cafeteria is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or school; a school dining location is also referred to as a dining hall or canteen...
s at scientific institutes, fake classified and advertisements for a medical plan called HMO-NO, and a very odd letters page.
Occasional AIR articles are factual and illuminating, if a bit offbeat. For example, in 2003 researcher-documentary producer Nick T. Spark
Nick T. Spark
Nick T. Spark is an American documentary filmmaker and writer. Films he has written, directed or produced include Regulus: The First Nuclear Missile Submarines and the Emmy award winning The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club...
wrote about the background and history of Murphy's Law
Murphy's law
Murphy's law is an adage or epigram that is typically stated as: "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong". - History :The perceived perversity of the universe has long been a subject of comment, and precursors to the modern version of Murphy's law are not hard to find. Recent significant...
in a four-part article, "Why Everything You know About Murphy's Law is Wrong". It was revised, expanded and later published in June 2006 as the book A History of Murphy's Law.
AIR awards the annual science Ig Nobel Prize
Ig Nobel Prize
The Ig Nobel Prizes are an American parody of the Nobel Prizes and are given each year in early October for ten unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research. The stated aim of the prizes is to "first make people laugh, and then make them think"...
s, for ten achievements that "first make people laugh, and then make them think". AIR also runs the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists.
History
AIR is not the first science parody magazine. The Journal of Irreproducible ResultsJournal of Irreproducible Results
The Journal of Irreproducible Results is a magazine of science humor. JIR was founded in Israel in 1955 by virologist Alexander Kohn and physicist Harry J. Lipkin, who wanted a humor magazine about science, for scientists. It contains a unique mix of jokes, satire of scientific practice, science...
(JIR) was founded by Alex Kohn and Harry Lipkin in 1955, but most of its editorial staff, including editor Marc Abrahams
Marc Abrahams
Marc Abrahams is editor and co-founder of Annals of Improbable Research, and originator and emcee of the annual Ig Nobel Prize celebration. He was formerly editor of the Journal of Irreproducible Results....
, left after the magazine was bought by publisher George Scherr in 1994. Scherr filed a number of court actions against AIR, alleging that it was deceptively similar to the Journal and that it had stolen the name "Ig Nobel Prize," but these actions were unsuccessful.
Notable articles
- Scott A. Sandford, "Apples and Oranges — A Comparison," AIR, Vol. 1, No. 3 (1995).
- E. R. SchulmanEric SchulmanEric Schulman is an American astronomer and science humorist. Schulman received his bachelor's degree from UCLA and his PhD from the University of Michigan. He is the author of A Briefer History of Time: From the Big Bang to the Big Mac and has been a member of the editorial board of the Annals of...
, "How to Write a Scientific Paper," AIR, Vol. 2, No. 5 (1996). - Fiorella Gambale, "Does a Cat Always Land on Its Feet?," AIR, Vol. 4, No. 4 (1998).
- Ida Sabelis, "To Make Love as a Testee," AIR, Vol. 7, No. 1 (2001).
- Lucas Kovar, "Electron Band Structure In Germanium, My Ass," AIR, Vol. 7, No. 3 (2001).
- Ryan Shaun Baker, "The Sleep-Retardant Properties of My Ex-Girlfriend," AIR, Vol. 8, No. 3 (2002).
- Mark Fonstad, William (Pugatch) Flynn, and Brandon Vogt, "Kansas Is Flatter Than a Pancake," AIR, Vol. 9, No. 3 (2003).