Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Annals of Improbable Research
open-in-new
<p>The <i>Annals of Improbable Research</i> (<i>AIR</i>) is a <a href="/facts/Bimonthly/QzMjfnCB">bimonthly</a> <a href="/facts/Magazine/4CPK1emz">magazine</a> devoted to scientific humor, in the form of a <a href="/facts/Satire/dqFS5vIL">satirical</a> take on the standard academic journal. <i>AIR</i>, published six times a year since 1995, usually showcases at least one piece of scientific research being done on a strange or unexpected topic, but most of their articles concern real or fictional absurd experiments, such as a comparison of <a href="/facts/Apples_and_oranges/XLKu0ujR">apples and oranges</a> using <a href="/facts/Infrared_spectroscopy/u1Hzx617">infrared spectroscopy</a>. Other features include such things as ratings of the <a href="/facts/Cafeteria/rVaz7rA8">cafeterias</a> at scientific institutes, fake classifieds and advertisements for a medical plan called HMO-NO, and a very odd letters page. The magazine is headquartered in <a href="/facts/Cambridge%2c_Massachusetts/k9UMIJ7U">Cambridge, Massachusetts</a>. </p><p><i>AIR</i> awards the annual science <a href="/facts/Ig_Nobel_Prize/mKVLGD8q">Ig Nobel Prizes</a>, for ten achievements that "first make people laugh, and then make them think". <i>AIR</i> also runs the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists. </p>