Ig Nobel Awards

Earlier today, three American scientists were announced to be the winners of this year's Nobel Prize in Medicine, but Saturday saw the conferral of somewhat less prestigious distinctions. The 2009 Ig Nobel Prizes, which are awarded to "achievements that first make people laugh, then make them think," were presented at Harvard. The Chemistry Ig Nobel was awarded to three scientists who made diamonds out of tequila. The Veterinary Medicine Ig Nobel went to two researchers who found that cows with names give more milk. And the Ig Nobel for physics was won by three scientists who determined why pregnant women don’t tip over. It was the Public Health prize, however, which resulted in the most hilarious photo.

Elena N. Bodnar, Raphael C. Lee and Sandra Marijan invented a bra that can, in the event of an emergency, be turned into two gas masks. Professor Paul Krugman attended the event to give a short lecture and helped by demonstrating the protective face cover.