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mini-Annals of Improbable Research ("mini-AIR")
Issue Number 2003-06
June, 2003
ISSN 1076-500X
Key words: improbable research, science humor, Ig Nobel, AIR, the
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A free newsletter of tidbits too tiny to fit in the
Annals of Improbable Research (AIR),
the journal of inflated research and personalities
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2003-06-01 TABLE OF CONTENTS

2003-06-01 Table of Contents
2003-06-02 What's New in the Magazine
2003-06-03 Napoleon in Mind
2003-06-04 Fingernail Water Poets Honored
2003-06-05 TAUNG CHILD LOAD LIMERICK Contest
2003-06-06 Two to 23
2003-06-07 Numeric Correction
2003-06-08 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Tarantulas Cause Eye Irritation
2003-06-09 BURSTS OF HotAIR: Crisp, Crisp Munchies
2003-06-10 MAY WE RECOMMEND: Freshen, Fibrillate, Oddball
2003-06-11 AIRhead Events
2003-06-12 How to Subscribe to AIR (*)
2003-06-13 Our Address (*)
2003-06-14 Please Forward/Post This Issue! (*)
2003-06-15 How to Receive mini-AIR, etc. (*)

	Items marked (*) are reprinted in every issue.

	mini-AIR is
	a free monthly *e-supplement* to AIR, the print magazine


----------------------------------------------------------
2003-06-02 What's New in the Magazine

Volume 9, number 3 (May/June 2003) of the Annals of Improbable 
Research (AIR) is the special EVERYTHING issue. Highlights 
include:

<> "Trinkaus: An Informal Look," by Alice Shirrell Kaswell. An 
informal, entrancing look at some of the published works of the 
remarkably curious and prolific researcher J.W. Trinkaus. The 
complete article, broken into eleven convenient pieces, is also 
on-line, at
<http://www.improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume9/v9i3/trinkaus0.html>

<> A Photograph of Queen Victoria's fig leaf. The photo appears on 
the magazine's back cover, and is also on-line, at 
<http://www.improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume9/v9i3/v9i3-toc.html>

<> "Craig's DNA," by Marc Abrahams. A tribute in song to one of 
the giants of DNA research. The song was written for, and 
performed as part of, the gala 50th anniversary DNA celebration in 
Washington, DC.

<> "P¿rn Research," compiled by Bj¿rn Fwee. A haphazardly selected 
(but not superficial!) collection of research conducted by 
scientists named P¿rn.

...and much more.

The complete table of contents can be perused at 
<http://www.improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume9/v9i3/v9i3-toc.html>


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2003-06-03 Napoleon in Mind

We invite you to participate in the NAPOLEON IN MIND research 
project. We would like to compile a complete guide to all 
documented cases of people who believe themselves to be the 
emperor Napoleon.

There is a widespread belief, apparently inspired by musings of 
the late Sigmund Freud, that have been many such people. However, 
we are currently unaware of even a single well-documented case.

Here is the nearest we have found -- and for obvious reasons it 
does NOT meet our stringent criteria:

	"Un Caso Contemporaneo de Delirio de Filiacion" ["A
	Contemporary Case OF Filial Delusions"]  [article in
	Spanish], Hector Perez-Rincon and Bruno Montesano,
	Psicopatologia, vol. 5, no. 1, January-March 1985,
	pp. 29-34.  The authors present "a case report of a
	29-yr-old male who suffered from filial delusions,
	believing himself to be the son of Napoleon III and
	a historical personage of the era."

If you are aware of a case that is PROPERLY DOCUMENTED in the 
medical literature, please send the  pertinent, complete -- 
citation to:

	"NAPOLEON-IN-MIND PROJECT
	c/o <marca@chem2.Harvard.edu>


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2003-06-04 Fingernail Water Poets Honored

The judges in the first and last annual FINGERNAIL WATER LIMERICK 
COMPETITION have chosen the winners, each of whom in some sense 
explored the research report:

	"Determining Water Content in Human Nails with 
	a Portable Near-Infrared Spectrometer."
	[See last month's mini-AIR for the full citation.]

The winners each will receive a free, well-trimmed (though 
possibly soggy) issue of the Annals of Improbable Research. 
Here are the poets and their limericks:

INVESTIGATOR GABRIEL KRABBE:
I forgot to ensure my hydration,
So in nail-biting anticipation
  I am anxious to know
  What these scientists show
Of my cuticle-water relation.

INVESTIGATOR TREVOR BORDEN:
Hard science takes oh so much time.
These results, though, were nearly sublime,
  With one hundred and eight
  Wet nails on a plate.
Maybe next time they'll use 109.

INVESTIGATOR ROGER BLADEN:
Four researchers polished and slick
Used methodology spectroscopic
  To discover a first --
  That you CAN slake your thirst
By nibbling your nails to the quick!

These are apparently the best of all possible fingernail water 
poets. The world will, presumably, applaud them.


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2003-06-05 TAUNG CHILD LOAD LIMERICK Contest

We invite you to enter the first and last annual TAUNG CHILD LOAD 
LIMERICK COMPETITION, for the best (NEWLY composed!) limerick that 
elucidates this research report, which was brought to our 
attention by investigator Beth Selby:

	"The Load of the Taung Child," L.R. Berger and R.J.
	Clarke, Nature, vol. 379, no. 29, 1996, p. 778.
	The report reads in part:
	
	"Following our recent suggestion that a large bird of 
	prey collected the Taung child and associated fauna, 
	Hedenstrom suggested that the load-lifting capacity of 
	a crowned eagle, one of several candidate species of 
	African raptor that may have acted as the accumulator, 
	would have been inadequate for lifting the estimated mass
	of the Taung infant. He therefore suggested that the Taung
	child must have been dismembered before transport to the 
	nest. We... cannot be certain whether the Taung child 
	was carried during an eagle's 'short anaerobic sprint' 
	from the surrounding area, or whether it was carried 
	over a 'considerable distance'...."

RULES: Please make sure your rhymes actually do, and that your 
limerick at least pretends to adhere to classic limerick form.

PRIZE: The winning poet will receive a free, nail-biting issue of 
the Annals of Improbable Research. Send entries (one entry per 
entrant) to:

	TAUNG CHILD LOAD LIMERICK CONTEST
	c/o <marca@chem2.harvard.edu>


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2003-06-06 Two to 23

There may be great significance in, or perhaps between, the 
numbers 2 and 23. This is apparent in a new press release from the 
American Academy of Otolaryngology, which says:

	Although human bites are less common than dog or 
	cat bites, they make up two to 23 percent of 
	all bite wounds.

The full announcement is at
<http://www.newswise.com/articles/2003/6/BITES2.AAO.html?sc=wire>

Two to 23. Two to 23. Two to 23. If you know of other studies or 
press releases that mention this highly significant range (two to 
23), please send us the citation.


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2003-06-07 Numeric Correction

Please join our NUMERIC CORRECTION CAMPAIGN.

Scientists are sometimes accused of being oblivious to, and 
perhaps unsympathetic with, the concerns of their fellow citizens. 
Now comes a perfect opportunity to demonstrate that scientists can 
do the right thing. 

Many people find the number 666 forbidding, and believe it should 
be forbidden. This is a simple request that can be easily met. For 
example, the New Mexico Highway and Transportation Department has 
just announced that the road named "U.S. Route 666" will no longer 
be named "U.S. Route 666." Its new name is U.S. 491. (Thanks to 
investigators M. Malamud and D. Adams for bringing this to our 
attention.)

Using this simple technique, many scientists can now demonstrate 
their sense of responsibility.

It really is simple. Consider the chemistry research paper: 

	"Kinetic Salt Effects on the Reaction Between the 
	(1,3,6,8,10,13,16,19-Octa-azabicyclo(666)icosane)
	Cobalt(III) Ion, Co(sep)3+, and the 
	Hexa-aquochromium(II) Ion," Francesco Ferranti and 
	Antonio Indelli,  Journal of the Chemical Society 
	-- Faraday Transactions, vol. 85, no. 8, 1989, pp. 2241-8.

The number "666" contained in that title is offensive -- some 
would say the number is "just plain wrong." Following the lead of 
the U.S. highway officials, the paper's authors might wish to 
change the 666 to a 491. Thus, the correct title of the paper 
would become:

	"Kinetic Salt Effects on the Reaction Between the 
	(1,3,6,8,10,13,16,19-Octa-azabicyclo(491)icosane)
	Cobalt(III) Ion, Co(sep)3+, and the 
	Hexa-aquochromium(II) Ion."

Please spread the word so that other scientists can correct their 
own work before others feel compelled to step in and correct it 
for them.


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2003-06-08 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Tarantulas Cause Eye Irritation

Each month we select for your special attention a research report
that seems especially worth a close read. Your librarian will
enjoy being asked (loudly, so other library patrons can hear it)
for a copy. Here is this month's Pick-of-the-Month:

	"Ophthalmia Nodosa Caused by the Hairs of the Bird Spider 
	(Family Theraphosidae) or Hairy Megalomorph (Known in
	the U.S. as Tarantula) -- Case Report and Review of the 
	Literature" [Article in German], C.W. Spraul, P. Wagner, 
	G.E. Lang, and G.K. Lang , Klinische Monatsblatter fur 
	Augenheilkunde, vol. 220, nos. 1-2, January-February 2003, 
	pp. 20-3. (Thanks to Kristine Danowski for bringing this 
	to our attention.) The authors report that:

		Bird spiders, known in the U.S. as tarantulas, 
		are large hairy spiders that have become increasingly 
		popular as pets in the Western world. We present a 
		patient with a red irritated eye from exposure to 
		the hairs of a spider of the Theraphosidae family...


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2003-06-09 BURSTS OF HotAIR: Crisp, Crisp Munchies

Here are concise, flighty mentions of some of the features we've 
posted on HotAIR since last month's mini-AIR came out. See the 
whole list by clicking "WHAT'S NEW" at the web site, or go to:
<http://www.improbable.com/navstrip/whatsnew.html>

==> New Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club members
<http://www.improbable.com/projects/hair/hair-club-top.html>

==> A Decade of Burnt Food (Third of three parts)
<http://www.improbable.com/airchives/classical/articles/burnt_food_3.html>


	THESE, AND MORE, ARE ON HOTAIR AT
	<http://www.improbable.com/navstrip/whatsnew.html>


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2003-06-10 MAY WE RECOMMEND: Freshen, Fibrillate, Oddball

FRESHEN, FIBRILLATE 
"Ventricular Fibrillation Following Inhalation of Glade Air 
Freshener," F. LoVecchio and S.E. Fulton, European Journal of 
Emergency Medicine, vol. 8, no. 2, June 2001, pp.153-4.

DIFFICULT TO CATEGORIZE
"Event-Related Potentials in a Self-Paced Novelty Oddball Task," 
Hiroshi Nittono and Peter Ullsperger, NeuroReport, vol. 11, no. 9, 
2000, pp. 1861-4. The authors are, respectively,  at Hiroshima 
University, Japan and at Bundesanstalt fur Arbeitsschutz und 
Arbeitsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.


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2003-06-11 AIRhead Events

==> For details and updates see <http://www.improbable.com>
==> Want to host an event? <marca@chem2.harvard.edu> 617-491-4437

THIRTEENTH 1ST ANNUAL IG NOBEL PRIZE CEREMONY	- THU, OCT 2, 2003
Sanders Theatre, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
INFO: <http://www.improbable.com/ig/ig-top.html>

IG INFORMAL LECTURES				- SAT, OCT 4, 2003
Details TBA.

	-----------------

CALTECH, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA			TUES, JANUARY 27, 2004
Details TBA.

AAAS ANNUAL MEETING, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON	- FEBRUARY, 2004
Annual AIR special session as part of the annual meeting of the 
American Association for the Advancement of Science. Details TBA.

ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND                    	- MARCH, 2004
IG NOBEL / AIR Tour will be a featured part of the UK's NATIONAL 
SCIENCE WEEK.AIR editor MARC ABRAHAMS, numerous IG NOBEL WINNERS, 
and other of Britain's most and least celebrated scientist will do 
improbable public shows in various cities. Details TBA.


--------------------------------------------------------------
2003-06-12 How to Subscribe to AIR (*)

Here's how to subscribe to the magnificent bi-monthly print 
journal The Annals of Improbable Research (the real thing, not 
just the little bits of overflow material you've been reading in 
this newsletter).
................................................................ 
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................................................................ 
BACK ISSUES are available, too:  
First issue: $8 USA, $11 Canada/Mex, $16 overseas Add'l issues 
purchased at same time: $6 each 
................................................................ 
Send payment (US bank check, or international money order, or 
Visa, Mastercard or Discover info) to:
	Annals of Improbable Research (AIR) 
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-----------------------------------------------------
2003-06-13 Our Address (*)

Annals of Improbable Research (AIR)
PO Box 380853, Cambridge, MA 02238 USA 
617-491-4437 FAX:617-661-0927

EDITORIAL: marca@chem2.harvard.edu 
SUBSCRIPTIONS: air@improbable.com 
WEB SITE: <http://www.improbable.com>


---------------------------
2003-06-14 Please Forward/Post This Issue! (*)

Please distribute copies of mini-AIR (or excerpts!) wherever 
appropriate. The only limitations are: A) Please indicate that the 
material comes from mini-AIR. B) You may NOT distribute mini-AIR 
for commercial purposes.

	------------- mini-AIRheads ------------- 
EDITOR: Marc Abrahams (marca@chem2.harvard.edu)
MINI-PROOFREADER AND PICKER OF NITS (before we introduce the last
few at the last moment): Wendy Mattson <wendy@posh.com>
WWW EDITOR/GLOBAL VILLAGE IDIOT: Amy Gorin 
(airmaster@improbable.com)
COMMUTATIVE EDITOR: Stanley Eigen (eigen@neu.edu)
ASSOCIATIVE EDITOR: Mark Dionne
DISTRIBUTIVE EDITOR: Robin Abrahams
CO-CONSPIRATORS: Alice Shirrell Kaswell, Gary Dryfoos, Ernest 
Ersatz, S. Drew
MAITRE DE COMPUTATION: Jerry Lotto
AUTHORITY FIGURES: Nobel Laureates Dudley Herschbach, Sheldon 
Glashow, William Lipscomb, Richard Roberts

(c) copyright 2003, Annals of Improbable Research 


-----------------------------------------------------
2003-06-15 How to Receive mini-AIR, etc. (*)

What you are reading right now is mini-AIR. Mini-AIR is a (free!) 
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