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Scientists Studying Cockroach Milk, Nose-Blowing Win 2026 Ig Nobels
The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate unusual scientific studies that are funny but can still teach us important things.
In 2026, ten teams received awards at a ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland.
One team studied milk from Pacific beetle cockroaches.
They found that tiny protein crystals in the milk contain a lot of energy for baby cockroaches.
Another prize honored research about the science of blowing your nose.
Scientists also studied kissing, toilet splash, buried underwear, and mosquito mouthparts.
People at the ceremony kept the event playful by throwing paper airplanes.
The next ceremony is planned for Antwerp, Belgium, in 2027.
Ten research teams received the 2026 Ig Nobel Prizes in Zurich, Switzerland.
Cockroach-milk researchers found its protein crystals provide developing embryos with highly concentrated nutrition.
The Medicine Prize honored late Japanese researcher Tokuji Unno’s aerodynamic study of nose-blowing.
Other winners studied kissing’s evolution, urinal splash reduction, buried underwear, and mosquito-mouthpart 3D printing.
The 36th ceremony was held outside the United States for the first time, with the 2027 event planned for Antwerp.
- Who
- Ten research teams, including scientists studying cockroach milk, nose-blowing, kissing, urinals, buried underwear, and mosquito mouthparts.
- What
- The 2026 Ig Nobel Prizes honored unusual research designed to make people laugh before making them think.
- Where
- Zurich, Switzerland; it was the first Ig Nobel ceremony held outside the United States.
- When
- The 36th annual ceremony took place on a Thursday in 2026; the next ceremony is scheduled for 2027.
- Why
- The awards celebrate scientific curiosity, unconventional thinking, and research that can reveal serious scientific insights despite appearing unusual or amusing.
Key facts
- Awards
- 2026 Ig Nobel Prizes
- Recipients
- Ten research teams
- Ceremony location
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Featured Chemistry research
- Protein crystals in Pacific beetle cockroach milk contained more than three times the energy of an equivalent mass of dairy milk.
- Medicine Prize
- Awarded to late Japanese researcher Tokuji Unno for “How to Blow Your Nose: An Aerodynamic Study of Nose Blowing”.
- Organiser
- Annals of Improbable Research
- Next ceremony
- Scheduled for 2027 in Antwerp, Belgium.
Sources
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