Scientists have made a discovery that is quite unexpected for science – it turned out that some species of animals are able to breathe through their anus. For this unusual study, the team received the Ig Nobel Prize, which is known for rewarding discoveries that first make you laugh and then make you think. This discovery may in the future be the key to saving millions of people suffering from respiratory problems. After all, if animals can absorb oxygen through the rectum, perhaps a similar technique will help people who cannot breathe through the main respiratory organs. It seems that this is a more important discovery than it seems at first glance.
The 2024 Ig Nobel Prize was held at MIT. Photo credit: nypost.com
Animals can breathe through their anuses
According to The Guardian, the research that led to this unexpected discovery began during the COVID-19 pandemic. When hospitals were experiencing an acute shortage of ventilators, Japanese scientists began to think about how else they could help people with respiratory failure. They paid attention to the characteristics of some animals, such as loach fish (Salvelinus alpinus), which can breathe through their intestines. This became the basis for experiments with mammals.
Loach fish can breathe through their anus. Image source: Pinterest
The Japanese team conducted a series of tests on mice, rats and pigs. During the experiments, the researchers fed oxygen directly into the animals' rectums and found that they were able to absorb it, which subsequently maintained normal oxygen levels in the blood. This opened up new prospects for treating respiratory problems in humans. The scientists called the process “enteral ventilation” and said it could be a real breakthrough in medicine.
Perhaps, not the most serious discovery in the future will help save human lives. Image source: foodnavigator.com
By winning an Ig Nobel Prize for their discovery, the team has drawn attention to a potentially effective way to keep people with damaged respiratory organs alive. The discovery could revolutionize the treatment of people with respiratory failure, especially in emergency situations. Human clinical trials are currently underway, and if the results are confirmed, the method could offer new hope for saving millions of people around the world.
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How the 2024 Ig Nobel Prize was held
The 2024 Ig Nobel Prize was held in the usual spirit of humor and science. This unusual ceremony, which is a parody of the famous Nobel Prize (to be announced on October 11, 2024), once again attracted the public's attention with its unexpected discoveries. This year, 10 research teams received awards. Among the laureates, in addition to Japanese researchers, were teams of scientists from other countries.
The Ig Nobel Prize ceremony ended with the launch of paper airplanes. Photo source: theguardian.com
The ceremony took place at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where the Ig Nobel Prizes are traditionally awarded. The laureates received their awards from the hands of real Nobel laureates, which made the ceremony even more ironic. The stage also featured short lectures in a 24/7 format: first, scientists explained the essence of their scientific discoveries in 24 seconds, and then in just seven words. The event ended with a symbolic throwing of paper airplanes, as a reminder of the ease and creativity of scientific research.
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2024 Ig Nobel Prize winners
Among other unusual studies that were awarded the 2024 Ig Nobel Prize was the work on pigeons in rockets. During World War II, American psychologist Burrhus Skinner proposed using pigeons to guide missiles to their targets. These birds, trained to recognize objects, were supposed to peck at a screen, directing the missile to the desired point. Despite successful experiments, the project was abandoned in 1953 when electronic systems became more reliable. However, this study showed that sometimes solutions can be found in the most unexpected places. Scientist Burrhus Skinner was awarded posthumously.
Burrhus Skinner, author of the “Dove” project. Photo source: psychologies.today
French professor Romain Khonsari received the award for his study of hair curls on the head. It turned out that in most cases, hair curls clockwise, but in the southern hemisphere this pattern is less common. Despite the apparent uselessness of the discovery, the scientist believes that studying such trifles can help make important discoveries about natural phenomena.
In 2024, scientists learned something interesting about the swirl of hair on the head. Image source: noomba.ru
Another Ig Nobel laureate was Dr Saul Newman of Oxford, who investigated claims of record longevity. His work showed that most claims of long-lived people come from regions with short life expectancies and a lack of birth certificates. This gives rise to many errors and even cases of fraud. Newman's research highlights the importance of checking data carefully, especially in matters of demographics.
Many centenarians may be impostors. Photo source: vrubcovske.ru
Saul Newman's research raises an important question: did all the famous centenarians really live as long as they claim? The results of the scientific work prove that many of them may be impostors, whose statements are supported only by oral evidence.
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One such example is Shirali Muslimov, an Azerbaijani shepherd who, according to some sources, lived to be 168 years old. At the time of his death, there was no birth certificate to confirm this figure, which makes his case controversial. You can read more about him in our article “The oldest man in the USSR became a father at 137: truth or fiction?”.