Frog Sniffing and other igNobels

Ah, it's igNobel time again. That glorious time when science is not only proved to be fun, but funny.

Several Australians have picked up awards this year, including a team from the University of Adelaide who researched frog smells (apparently some smell like curry - Mmmmm, frog curry). Two professors from the University of Queensland won an award for the Pitch Drop Experiment. The experiment demonstrates the fluidity and viscosity of pitch at room temperature. Sexy huh? Think watching paint dry is boring? The experiment started in 1927 and in all that time there have been only four drops. The next one isn't expected before 2011.

Other winners include the inventor of artificial dog testicles, called neuticles; researchers of whether people swim faster in syrup or water; the researcher who photographed every meal he had for 34 years; and the researchers that calculated the pressure that built up inside a penguin when it defecates.

All fun stuff.