43 votes

Scientists receive Ig Nobel Prize for discovering mammals can breathe through anuses

18 comments

  1. [6]
    dnaq
    (edited )
    Link
    This actually has the potential to become really important. Remember all the people who died hooked up to ventilators during Covid due to their lungs giving up. Now imagine if this would become a...

    This actually has the potential to become really important. Remember all the people who died hooked up to ventilators during Covid due to their lungs giving up.

    Now imagine if this would become a viable alternative to ventilator care, it would give the lungs a chance to recover without the added mechanical pressure of a ventilator, while still keeping the patient alive and oxygenated.

    Obviously this is just fundamental research, and it might never pan out, but I would say this is one of the strongest examples of ig nobel’s mission statement to: “honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think.”

    45 votes
    1. [5]
      teaearlgraycold
      Link Parent
      What about artificial lungs? Why aren’t they used for covid patients?

      What about artificial lungs? Why aren’t they used for covid patients?

      1 vote
      1. dnaq
        Link Parent
        I think ECMO was used in some Covid cases with good results. Main issue with ECMO is that, except for the very very few ECMO machines, is that it requires a high amount of staff for each patient....

        I think ECMO was used in some Covid cases with good results. Main issue with ECMO is that, except for the very very few ECMO machines, is that it requires a high amount of staff for each patient.

        Also ECMO is by its nature a lot more invasive, since an ECMO patient has their entire circulatory system bypassed. This of course makes it usable for many more cases than “just” oxygenation, but when oxygenation is the only thing that is needed, other approaches might be helpful.

        11 votes
      2. [3]
        Inanimate
        Link Parent
        I believe they are referring to artificial lungs when they speak of 'ventilator care'.

        I believe they are referring to artificial lungs when they speak of 'ventilator care'.

        1 vote
        1. [2]
          teaearlgraycold
          Link Parent
          I mean a device that can oxygenate blood. A ventilator is more of an artificial diaphragm.

          I mean a device that can oxygenate blood. A ventilator is more of an artificial diaphragm.

          6 votes
          1. Inanimate
            Link Parent
            Ah, I see! I wasn't aware of the difference, but I've just looked into it. Thanks for enlightening me!

            Ah, I see! I wasn't aware of the difference, but I've just looked into it. Thanks for enlightening me!

            2 votes
  2. mat
    Link
    Just last week I listened to this episode of Let's Learn Everything about the IgNobels, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the topic. If you can put up with the hosts almost...

    Just last week I listened to this episode of Let's Learn Everything about the IgNobels, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the topic. If you can put up with the hosts almost exhausting levels of enthusiasm and excitement. But that's part of the charm of LLE.

    14 votes
  3. [7]
    chocobean
    Link
    As explained by the award winners: https://www.youtube.com/live/Cb_DmKFfa_A?si=fsCvjtNofgu-RqBp&t=3702 1:01:45 of Nico Nico stream with Japanese subtitles and live user comments (Also the young...

    As explained by the award winners:
    https://www.youtube.com/live/Cb_DmKFfa_A?si=fsCvjtNofgu-RqBp&t=3702

    1:01:45 of Nico Nico stream with Japanese subtitles and live user comments

    (Also the young girl isn't being rude, she's the official "orchestra" if you will. :) because scientists can become long-winded when talking about their research)

    8 votes
    1. [6]
      Kind_of_Ben
      Link Parent
      I think I understand the girl's role but I'm confused why you call her an "orchestra" haha. Typo? Or am I ignorant of something?

      I think I understand the girl's role but I'm confused why you call her an "orchestra" haha. Typo? Or am I ignorant of something?

      1. [2]
        DefinitelyNotAFae
        Link Parent
        If she's "playing them off" stage during their speeches, that's usually the role of an orchestra.

        If she's "playing them off" stage during their speeches, that's usually the role of an orchestra.

        7 votes
        1. Kind_of_Ben
          Link Parent
          Yep, got it, I somehow didn't know that was a thing! Thanks.

          Yep, got it, I somehow didn't know that was a thing! Thanks.

      2. [2]
        chocobean
        Link Parent
        Oh, my apologies. In North America, it's common to have the orchestra begin playing music loudly, when award acceptance speeches go too long. The orchestra "play them off the stage" Here's an...

        Oh, my apologies. In North America, it's common to have the orchestra begin playing music loudly, when award acceptance speeches go too long. The orchestra "play them off the stage"

        Here's an Oscars compilation
        https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0laun_MxqRc

        5 votes
        1. Kind_of_Ben
          Link Parent
          Ah, I never watch the big awards shows so I simply was unaware of this. Thanks!

          Ah, I never watch the big awards shows so I simply was unaware of this. Thanks!

          2 votes
      3. mild_takes
        Link Parent
        Maybe they mean "conductor". Like the conductor of an orchestra.

        Maybe they mean "conductor". Like the conductor of an orchestra.

  4. [4]
    Fiachra
    Link
    Where can I learn this power?

    Where can I learn this power?

    4 votes
    1. [2]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. Fiachra
        Link Parent
        The cover is formatted like those conspiracy screeds that claim Jesus lived out his elder years in Wales, but people tell me not to judge books that way so I guess I'm buying it.

        The cover is formatted like those conspiracy screeds that claim Jesus lived out his elder years in Wales, but people tell me not to judge books that way so I guess I'm buying it.

        8 votes
    2. [2]
      chocobean
      Link Parent
      Not from the Jedi. Bonus pub med article: Blowing Smoke Up Your Arse: Drowning, Resuscitation, and Public Health in Eighteenth-Century Venice --- Alexandra Bamji. Bull Hist Med. 2020. Folks with...

      Not from the Jedi.

      Bonus pub med article:

      Blowing Smoke Up Your Arse: Drowning, Resuscitation, and Public Health in Eighteenth-Century Venice --- Alexandra Bamji. Bull Hist Med. 2020.

      Folks with free fulltext please share link? Abstract sounds very silly and interesting.

      From Tobacco Smoke Enema wiki entry, apparently the new world Europeans learned this from NA indigenous peoples?!?!

      Citation:[1]Haynes, MD, Sterling (December 2012). "Special feature: Tobacco smoke enemas". BC Medical Journal. 54 (10): 496–497. Retrieved 2024-04-22.

      • can someone with access verify?
      1 vote