Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Ig Nobel 2026 Honors Kissing, Cockroach Milk and Buried Underwear
The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate research that is funny at first but makes people think.
In 2026, the ceremony was held in Zurich instead of the United States because of security concerns.
Scientists received awards for studying unusual questions, such as why animals kiss and how people should blow their noses.
One team found that crystals from cockroach milk contain much more energy than the same amount of dairy milk.
Another team designed a urinal shaped like a nautilus shell to reduce splashing.
Researchers also used a mosquito’s mouth as a tiny nozzle for a 3D printer.
Other studies looked at social class, friendship, children’s smells and snake-bite behavior.
Soil scientists buried underwear in many countries to learn about the soil around it.
These studies sound strange, but they may still provide useful scientific information.
The 2026 Ig Nobel ceremony moved to Zurich, Switzerland, amid security concerns about holding it in the United States.
Biomechanics winners studied kissing across large apes, finding that eastern gorillas were the exception.
Awards recognized research on energy-rich cockroach milk, nose-blowing aerodynamics, splash-free urinals and mosquito-based 3D printing.
Other winners examined social class and unethical behavior, children’s changing odors, friendship preferences and snake bites.
A soil-science project buried 1,000 identical underpants in more than 25 countries to assess soil conditions.
- Who
- Researchers from several countries, including Matilda Brindle and colleagues, Paul K. Piff and Daniel Stancato, Tokuji Unno, and João Miguel Alves-Nunes and colleagues.
- What
- The 2026 Ig Nobel Prizes recognized research into kissing, cockroach milk, nose blowing, urinals, necroprinting, soil, odors, friendship and other unusual subjects.
- When
- The winners were announced on Thursday in 2026; the urinal research was reported in 2025 after beginning earlier.
- Where
- The ceremony took place in Zurich, Switzerland. The studies were conducted across multiple countries, including the United States, India, Brazil, Germany, Japan and China.
- Why
- The prizes honor achievements intended to first make people laugh and then make them think.
- Ceremony location
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Reason for relocation
- The ceremony moved from the United States amid security concerns; four previous winners reportedly chose not to travel to the United States.
- Kissing study
- Large apes were found to engage in some form of kissing except eastern gorillas.
- Cockroach milk
- A single crystal from Pacific beetle cockroach milk contained more than three times the energy of the same amount of dairy milk.
- Nose-blowing recommendation
- The Japanese study recommended a big and long nose blow to help prevent upper and lower respiratory tract diseases.
- Urinal design
- The nautilus-shaped urinal was designed to prevent splashback in simulated urine-stream tests.
- Underwear project
- Researchers buried 1,000 identical underpants in more than 25 countries and retrieved them two months later.
- Snake study
- Researchers stepped on different parts of 75 venomous pit vipers; the article said the related Nature paper was later retracted.