Research on human cannibalism and the elimination of kidney stones in roller coasters earn Ig Nobels

Scientists who have suggested that roller coasters could be used to eliminate kidney stones are among those who must be rewarded with a coveted Ig Nobel Prize.

The awards, given at Harvard University and organized by the American magazine Annals of Improbable Research, celebrate unusual, funny but practical scientific work.

The 28th annual ceremony was marked by the traditional "paper air raid" led by the public, while real Nobel laureates were present to present the awards.

Long acceptance speeches were kept apart by an eight-year-old girl who repeated "stop, I'm bored" after the 60-second delay.

The award for medicine has been awarded to American researchers for their research on the use of rollercoasters to accelerate the passage of kidney stones.

Professor David Wartinger, of Michigan State University, began to look into the situation when one of his patients reported that during the Big Thunder Mountain hike in Disney World, Florida, his kidney stones had been dislodged .

He built a model of the patient's renal system and tested it on rides to prove the theory.

Prof Wartinger told the BBC Radio 4 Today program: "Anyone trying to take advantage of our research should look for a rollercoaster, which does not necessarily have to be fast, but you want a fast and rough roller coaster with a lot of-and down and lateral movement. .

"In fact, the really fast ribs that are hundreds of meters and hundreds of feet do not work very well.

"I can not tell you about a general consensus, but I can tell you that since the last decade we know this research, we have successfully recommended it to our patients.

"It literally shakes the stone."

Dr. James Cole, professor of archeology at the University of Brighton, was also awarded, winning the nutrition prize for quantifying the calorific value of the human body.

After finding other animals that provide many more calories, he questioned the idea that human ancestors hunted and consumed members of their own species for strictly nutritional reasons.

"It is possible that some of our ancestors have eaten members of their own species out of necessity – but it is more likely that cannibalism is acting in a social rather than a nutritional setting," he said.

Dr. Cole said he was "honored" to see his research recognized by a Nobel Ig, adding, "Human cannibalism is a topic that continues to arouse a morbid fascination within modern societies.

"In particular, identifying the motivations of human cannibalism remains a controversial issue."

Here are some of the other winners of this year's awards:

– Researchers who have shown wine experts can reliably identify, to smell, the presence of a single fly in a glass of wine have received the biology award.

– The literature prize was awarded to a survey titled: "Life is too short for RTFM: how do users relate to documentation and excess functionality of mainstream products?" The study has documented how most people using complicated consumer products do not read the instruction manual.

– A Japanese doctor who designed a "self-colonoscopy", which he demonstrated, won the award for medical education.

– The economy award was awarded to researchers who studied the effectiveness of employees using voodoo dolls to take revenge on their bosses.

– Spanish researchers have won the peace prize for measuring the effects of shouting and insults while driving.